Question Period: Rona Ambrose
Has Canada turned its back on Kyoto?
Alan Forsythe - July 31, 2006
Born: March 15, 1969, Valleyview, Alta. Minister of the environment, member of Parliament (Conservative) for Edmonton-Spruce Grove. Former senior intergovernmental affairs officer.
Western Standard: Why do you think you've been criticized by Opposition members and some in the media for your admission that Canada would not meet its Kyoto targets?
Rona Ambrose: Part of the reason is that we've been honest about the process. As chair of [May's] UN Climate Change conference [in Germany], I gave a realistic view of what is practical to us as a country. The crux of the problem . . . is the difference between the developing world and developed nations. At the conference, developing countries were represented by South Africa, but behind the scenes was China, a country that is an industrial giant but still considered a developing country--and they are not willing to make commitments to Kyoto without first seeing deeper cuts from 15 countries, of which Canada is one . . . Brazil is another highly industrial yet developing country that was willing to co-operate but not willing to make an economic commitment.
WS: Has Canada turned its back on Kyoto?
RA: We haven't. But the last government was very focused on Kyoto and signed on to targets that were unattainable. The Liberals then came up with a last-minute plan that would have seen billions of taxpayers' dollars go overseas to Russia and China to purchase carbon credits, which does nothing to reduce pollution or carbon emissions in Canada.
WS: What is the alternative solution your government plans to pursue?
RA: We are developing equal partnerships with the private sector, and legislating pollution controls, and developing technological solutions to limiting emissions. From an industrial perspective, the two greatest emitters are oil/gas and transportation. We have already put in place incentives to increase the use of public transit. We need regulations for larger emitters, but the key is to have a framework . . . to build on. We are also promoting the use of alternative fuels, such as biodiesel or ethanol, which will be good for the environment as well as the economy.
WS: Meanwhile, how do we deal with our continued reliance on fossil fuels?
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