Environment Minister Baird gave out more details on the Harper government's plans for industrial GHG emissions today, at a presentation to the House Committee studying the Clean Air Act. Highlights gleaned from the big media outlets:
Emissions trading
The big news - no emissions reductions targets for industry before 2010, but (as suspected), it will involve a carbon permit market. As CANet's John Bennett is quoted as saying, the delay is unnecessary since industry has been preparing to meet targets negotiated for the Large Final Emitters emissions trading system, which was set to take effect this January.
Carbon tax
Baird also reiterated the Conservatives' refusal to consider a carbon tax.
International Carbon Trading
The other interesting news from Baird today is that Canada will not take part in an international carbon trading market. Does this mean they are closing the door on Joint Implementation and Clean Developoment Mechanism projects as well?
Justifying the Conservative rejection of Kyoto
Meanwhile, Harper et al are defending their overall stalling on Kyoto with what I have to admit is a clever image"To achieve (the Kyoto target) would require a rate of emissions decline unmatched by any modern nation in the history of the world...except those who have suffered economic collapse, such as Russia".
Look for many, many comparisons between a Kyoto-compliant Canada and a collapsing Soviet Union from the Conservatives.
A quick look at the countries that have had success gives us Britain, who is on track to hit a 23.5% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2010. Admittedly this hasn't been accomplished in a five year period, but it is an example of dramatic domestic reductions.
Link to Globe article
Link to National Post article
Link to CBC coverage
Link re British emissions levels
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