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For release: June 4, 2007

Government of Canada faces litmus test at G8 meeting on climate change

(Ottawa) Canadians will finally know whether the Government of Canada is serious about reducing global greenhouse gas emissions after G8 meetings June 6-8 in Germany. A strong communiqué from the talks would strengthen support for a negotiating mandate on a global framework for post 2012 at UN negotiations in Bali this December. Leaked drafts of the communiqué show that George W. Bush and the US delegation have struck out references to mandatory emission reduction targets and the need to prevent 2°C warming.

“We urge the Prime Minister to demonstrate his leadership on behalf of the people of Canada and accept the proposal from the host, Germany, to include an agreement to keep global temperature rise below 2°C”, said Joy Kennedy, United Church of Canada. “A strong signal is needed from the G8 leaders to the rest of the world that those who have contributed most to the increase in emissions are prepared to take action to reverse the rise and to decrease their concentrations in the atmosphere.”

The best science available tells us that emissions of greenhouse gases - largely from industrialized countries - have already contributed to an overall increase of close to 1°C. Increasing evidence reveals that this is more than many ecosystems and human communities can withstand. The observed impacts of global warming are already having dire consequences and will only increase with subsequent rise in global average temperature. It is therefore imperative that the world community firmly agrees to limit global average temperature rise as far below 2 degrees Celsius (2°C) as possible.

“The Government of Canada has not put in place adequate legislation or policies to make sure this country does its share in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) that lead to global warming”, said David Coon, President CAN-RAC. “The absence of strong Canadian leadership is being felt internationally and at home. Canadians want their government to be on the right side of the solutions to global warming, not on the wrong side with George W. Bush.”

“We urge Prime Minister Harper to support Germany's communiqué and to be a G8 champion of the Kyoto Protocol without being side-tracked by Bush's effort to delay action through a new process outside the UN,” said John Bennett, ClimateforChange.ca. “If not, then he must tell Canadians why we have to accept damage to Canadians' health, the economy and ecosystems.”

CAN-RAC has asked Environment Minister John Baird for a Stern-like report on the costs of climate change to Canada. However, in an appearance before the House of Commons environment committee last week, Minister. Baird said that it's a waste of time to study the economic impacts of global warming on Canada.

A coalition of environmental, social justice, faith and development groups is sending a letter to Prime Minister today to urge him to support Chancellor Merkel's efforts for G8 agreement on a 2˚C limit on global average temperature rise.

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