Federal Environment Minister David Anderson has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable development and the Kyoto Accord.
In a meeting with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce last week, Anderson said despite the U.S. rejection of the 1997 global greenhouse gas treaty, Canada will achieve its own emission-reduction goals but will continue to seek an international deal that recognizes the “real contribution” that well-managed forests and agricultural soils can make in addressing climate change.
The Kyoto Accord, if ratified, would have bound signing nations to reducing greenhouse gas emissions — blamed largely on the burning of fossil fuels — to six per cent below 1990 levels by 2010. Anderson said Canada will meet those targets.
Energy leaders in Alberta have also confirmed they are committed to continuing their offsets programs, voluntary initiatives by industry to reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions, especially from new fossil-fuel developments.
“Canada wants a deal that contains effective market mechanisms that will allow the private sector to display its ingenuity and to bring its considerable resources to bear.” Anderson vowed that Canada will also undertake an environmental review of all new trade agreements, and stressed the environment is a priority.
“We want environmental issues to be fully considered in developing Canadian trade policy and we want that done with transparency.”
