The Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311) needs your support again. On April 1, Bill C-311 passed second reading with 141 votes in favour and 128 against. The bill has been referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development for further debate, following which it will be brought back to the House for a final vote at third reading.
The Act has been at the committee level since April. In order to have the bill passed in time for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December, we need all parties to work together to ensure its swift passage. This means moving the bill through the committee stage quickly, returning it to the House for a final vote as soon as possible.
This is why we’re asking you to again contact committee members and party leaders urging them to pass the Climate Change Accountability Act as soon as possible.
The Climate Change Accountability Act is legislation that will establish:
• A long-term target to reduce Canadian greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050
• A medium-term target to bring emissions 25% below 1990 levels by 2020
These targets are consistent with the recommendations of the International Panel on Climate Change and the KYOTOplus campaign.
To ensure a process for meeting these targets, the Act provides government authority for making regulations to meet the targets and set penalties for contravening regulations passed under the Act. It also requires the Environment Minister to prepare five year plans for meeting these targets and reporting on progress.
Use our action alert to send an email to Environment Committee Members and Party leaders.
Sample email
Dear Environment Committee Members and Party leaders,
I am writing to request that you support the swift passage of the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311).
I am concerned that our country has not already committed to the targets this Act will establish, which are consistent with the recommendations of the International Panel on Climate Change. Weak targets and delays are not an option given the gravity of the consequences of not acting on the climate crisis.
This is particularly important now in the lead up to the next United Nations Climate Change Conference (Copenhagen, December 2009), which will recommit international efforts to address climate change.
Our country must play a leading role at this conference and adopting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in line with the international community is an important first step.
Please ensure that you support the swift passage of the bill, moving it past the committee stage and supporting the bill when it returns to the House for a final vote.
Sincerely,
