The Toronto Star reported on Monday Sept. 7 that multiple sources are confirming Environment Minister Jim Prentice is on a cross-country tour pitching a ‘two-tier’ approach to a national climate change plan that will give special treatment to the tar sands.
“Though plans are described as a work in progress, numerous accounts say the Conservatives intend to put a cap on the emissions from Ontario’s manufacturing sector and other polluting industries across Canada, while letting oil and gas companies meet less stringent intensity targets which allow output, and pollution, to increase.”
Like oil and water, real action addressing climate change, current and increased emissions in the tar sands simply don’t mix. It is a simple truth, that has been repeated many times, but one that the Harper government refuses to hear.
In August 2008 the Council of Canadian’s issued an action alert ‘like oil and water, the tar sands and climate change action don’t mix.’ This was in response to the aggressive sales campaign on the part of the Conservative government with the White House candidates to counter the tar sands ‘dirty oil’ label.
The Council of Canadians’ took action across the country on February 4, 2009 as part of Take Charge! A National Day of Action to Demand a Canadian Energy Strategy. This included delivering an open letter to all Members of Parliament urging them to reject any exemption for the tar sands from a binational agreement with the United States addressing climate change. This was in response to news suggesting the Harper government would be seeking special treatment for the tar sands in a binational climate change pact in the lead up to the visit of President Barack Obama to Canada (February 19, 2009). Follow this link to read our press release.
More recently, at the Climate Showdown in Regina the Council of Canadians joined with other organizations in calling for a fair climate change plan where all of Canada’s provinces pull their own weight and make their fair share of real pollution cuts. As highlighted in this Regina Leader-Post article, Premiers failed to confront the growing divide between those who support a fair climate change plan and those who want to see ‘window-dressing’ climate action including intensity targets that allow emissions from the tar sands to grow.
Although not surprising, it is disheartening news to see that the Harper government is continuing to promote solutions doomed to fail in taking meaningful climate action. This, at a time when the climate crisis is moving to the top of governments agenda’s leading up to the 15th session of the UNFCC (referred to as COP15) which will decide the next steps for a global climate deal after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
What we need is real action towards a just and fair solution to the climate crisis.
In Canada, our government must commit to a plan that transitions us to a low carbon future. This includes committing to science based targets for emission reductions, significant investments in improving energy conservation and efficiency, the rapid expansion of public transit and renewable power, Just Transition programmes for workers and impacted communities, rejecting the free market model for energy developments that see profits placed ahead of social and environmental interests which includes rejecting the energy provisions and Chapter 11 of NAFTA and a plan to achieve a tar sands free future.
The world needs decisive, tough action on climate change coming out of Copenhagen this December. Canada needs to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We need a global deal that leads to real emission reductions. It must be fair and equitable, including placing a greater and just burden on the Global North.
Take action:
Sign your support for KYOTOplus
Sign your support for no new approvals for tar sands developments
Participate in the Global Day of Action on Climate Change this October 24. Find out more at 350.org
