Harper says Canada will lead the fight against climate change
Stephen Harper says Canada will be a world leader in the fight against global warming and in the development of clean energy technology.
Harper chose climate Change as the topic of his address to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney, Australia. He stressed the need for an inclusive approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions that involves all countries working toward common targets.
Harper outlined Canada’s approach, saying the plan could be model for a new international agreement. The plan includes:
- Mandatory targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 18% per unit of production over the next 3 years, and then a further 2% reduction in intensity each year thereafter
- Macro GHG reduction targets of 20% by 2010 and 50-70% by 2050 over 2006 levels
- Domestic carbon market and emissions trading regime
- Clean Technology Fund for developing new technologies
- Use of international credits such as the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism
We want to be a world leader in the fight against global warming and the development of clean energy technology, we want to lead not by lecturing but by example, we want to share our knowledge and experience, and we want to work with the entire international community in the quest for clean energy.
APEC leaders agreed to common “aspirational targets” at the close of the summit the following day, representing the first time both the United States and China have participated in an international climate change declaration. However, the declaration quickly rejected by environmental groups for not including legally binding targets.
Links:
- Transcript: Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Address to the APEC Business Summit
- Key Points of APEC’s Sydney Declaration on Climate Change
We could build a stronger economic future around the sustainable industries that will be needed to undo the damage that has been done to our climate. There will be plenty of jobs when it comes time to save ourselves from extinction. I just hope we have the people to fill them. If we develop these industries now we might save the economy and our hides.
PhotoKelly
October 20, 2009 at 8:41 pm
well u cant possibly agree with someone who will enrich already rich oil companies and destroy our environment by adopting pseudo environment plans. If u do, u are retarded.
Zorakqc
October 4, 2008 at 1:19 am
Thanks for your inspired response dear pseudo intelluctual liberal, great insight.
VvredknightvV
October 4, 2008 at 1:05 am
well u are retarded
Zorakqc
October 2, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I absolutely agree with you.
andrewdanks
September 29, 2008 at 7:31 am
Harper is right on. His plan will help the environment without killing industry. If you look closely at Greenshift, it’s a cash grab that will kill industry and send hundreds of thousands home without a job while the liberals throw their cash around recklessly like always. WE CAN’T AFFORD ANOTHER LIBERAL FIASCO.
VvredknightvV
August 31, 2008 at 1:05 am
Harper is so right. we do need a ‘balanced’ approach. I mean we don’t know for sure that climate change is real. It is far more important ensure that the ecconomy is resiliant in these troubled ecconomic times, Focusing on the ecconomy will motivate people to do the right thing, and buy low consumption light bulbs. By taking the measured approach Harper has made sure that Canadians can feel proud, Canada has become a nation that leads the way, as an environmental leader in the next century.
tanisnoland
May 27, 2008 at 2:40 pm
That’s just your opinion my friend, I’m Canadian, and Canada does things because of our interests, ever common interests with the USA our friend and ally. Besides, we have earned our right to our sovereignty. It’s one thing to hate someone on the basis on an assumed idea, another when so many people in Canada don’t feel their right to vote is good enough, the right that was given to us by those who sacrificed their lives to establish. You don’t like Stephen, vote him out then and quit whining.
pspboy7
April 22, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Yes yes..the word “balance” means that we have alot more oil to suck out of Alberta so lets put off greenhouse gas emmission cuts until we can make all the money we can. That is what he is saying. That is the old narrow approach to economic prosperity. Economists have given it up, scientists gave it up long before, but our leaders still read the old text books. Let’s buy Mr. Harper a library card, shall we.
inglefud
February 28, 2008 at 12:50 am
Too bad he didn’t fight our problem of excessive immigration.
Normalman50
February 24, 2008 at 5:39 am
I can barely even listen to him, he’s so full of crap. He’s basically saying that he believes in doing something as long as big bussiness does not get affected. Listen to 3:30, you can’t have regulations where bussiness get to do what they want!
inspiringKevorkian
February 14, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Harper 09
SupremeMajinBuu
February 6, 2008 at 10:41 am
He is so far up Bush’s ass. Get him out of Government.
bigtiggerpaws
December 22, 2007 at 8:39 am
YOU are an idiot if you’re 40 years old and can’t see that Mars’ temperature getting hotter is not a man-made occurence.
It’s all there if you care to do the research.
But we can’t let facts get in the way of hysteria, can we?
PhilipJFry72
November 4, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Ur an idiot.
canadpol
November 4, 2007 at 6:36 pm
According the NASA, Mars is also getting hotter. That means that Global Warming isn’t something we’ll be able to stop. It means the sun is getting hotter.
PhilipJFry72
November 3, 2007 at 5:44 pm
Thank you for clearing that up, PrimarySource888. It’s quite refreshing to know that there are people who are not afraid to tell the truth. If I could give you a thumbs up, i would!
baird007
November 1, 2007 at 5:59 am
Glimate change is true and it is also happening. But, there is no theory that can exactly explain how to reduce green-house gas emission. If we shut down our machines, we have no job and we goona die. We doomed earlier than we thought. Here in Canada, I am using my air-conditioner, but I didn’t use last year this month.
Hail08
October 12, 2007 at 8:54 pm
The science was absolutely NOT tentative and contradictory in 2004.
I’ve followed the issue for years. Believe me when I say that in 2004 there was NO question about global warming and it’s causes.
Don’t be fooled by the “90% certainty” stuff that came out of the IPCC last Feb..that’s was watered down language. Ask the scientists who do the science (ex. NOT Tim Ball/Bob Carter/Tim Paterson/etc). They will say there’s no uncertainty.
In 2004, Harper was casting doubt. That is inexcusable.
canadpol
September 22, 2007 at 3:30 pm
How is he in any way lying? Climate change science WAS tentative and contradictory until 2004 when a 90% scientific consensus was finally reached, it was big news, remember? Co2 absolutely IS essential for life on this planet.
Its not true that all their targets are intensity based. They only use intensity targets until 2012 but its not an intensity based plan. There are absolute targets after 2012, such as 20% absolute reduction by 2020 and 50-70% absolute reduction by 2050, over 2006 levels.
PrimarySource888
September 20, 2007 at 6:08 pm
What a lying pos.
Harper talks about “realistic” reductions. The translation? He’ll do as little as possible, and that’s exactly what he IS doing.
It was just a few years ago that he said Kyoto was based on “tentative and contradictory” science. He also said Co2 is “essential to life”.
Now he’s talking about “intensity” targets. All of his reductions are intensity levels.
He’s a master bullshitter. maybe that’s what makes you happy.
canadpol
September 20, 2007 at 5:53 pm
It is nice to have a well spoken PM that can actually get up and talk about a topic in a understandable and confident fashion. Cretien would never be able to get up there and speak and Dion would be incoherant and make this country look like buffoons.
Stiletos
September 19, 2007 at 7:37 am