Four Fossil Awards For Canada At UN Climate Conference SCC Release

Sierra Club Canada News Release

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Four Fossil Awards for Canada at UN Climate Conference

OTTAWA-Today, during international climate talks in Poznan, Poland,
Canada was given an unprecedented four "Fossil of the Day" awards by
the international community.

The awards are given to governments taking positions that stall or
block the progress of climate negotiations. At the climate talks, the
Canadian delegation has failed to take a constructive approach to
negotiations - at the same time as the Harper government prorogued
Parliament, shutting down debate until next year.

"Canada must take a more constructive approach to international
climate talks. With ever-increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere, time is running out," said Mike Buckthought, National
Climate Change Campaigner. "We need deep reductions in emissions to
avoid the most dangerous consequences of climate change."

Canada tied for first place with Japan and Russia in failing to
support deep reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases. Reductions
of at least 25-40% are needed by 2020, in order to avoid dangerous
global warming that threatens most of the world´s plant and animal
species.

For the second place Fossil of the Day Award, the international
community awarded Canada two awards of shame - an unusual tie for
second place. Canada´s negotiators argued that the country should get
a break on its emissions targets, because the tar sands release a lot
of carbon.

"The tar sands should not be exempted from targets for reductions.
Quite the contrary, Canada and the international community need to
apply disincentives for the burning of dirty oil from the tar sands,"
said Stephen Hazell, Executive Director.

Canada also insisted that rich countries should get special treatment
for "welfare loss" - the "hardship" of using smaller cars, or public
transit.

Canada picked up a third place award, for a total of four prizes of
shame in arguing that special "national circumstances" (i.e., Canada
is cold and big) are the reason for Canada being 29% above its Kyoto
target. This argument ignores the fact that other cold countries
such as Sweden have been able to meet their Kyoto targets.

"Canada is missing the chance to create thousands of new green jobs
in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors," said Hazell.
"Other countries with northern climates have invested in a
sustainable economy, and the investments have paid off - with the
creation of thousands of new jobs."
For more information contact:
Stephen Hazell, Executive Director 613-241-4611 ext. 238 or 613-724-
1908 (cell)
Mike Buckthought, National Climate Change Campaigner, 613-241-4611
ext. 235

_____

Mike Buckthought
National Climate Change Campaigner
Sierra Club Canada
+1.613.241.4611 x235
mikeb@sierraclub.ca
www.sierraclub.ca