OTTAWA—Canada won’t be shifted off its anti-Kyoto stance even with a new concession that could see the world’s largest emitter, China, pledge to cut its greenhouse gases.
The Conservative government’s long-standing goal in global climate negotiations has been to replace the Kyoto Protocol with a signed deal that binds all countries with large greenhouse gas outputs to lower their emissions.
China took a huge step toward that eventual deal, on the condition that developed countries take on new commitments after 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.
In response, Canada scoffed.
“That would not change our position,” Environment Minister Peter Kent said.
Countries are fixated this year on getting emissions pledges for a second Kyoto period because the agreement expires at the end of 2012 and a long-term successor agreement is still years away. If Kyoto lapses, so too do its rules, which govern global greenhouse gases, including requirements that force countries to maintain and publish annual registries of emissions.
Kent refused again to comment on reports that the Tories plan to file one-year’s advance notice later this month of their plans to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol. Such a move would brand Canada as the most activist of the developed countries, including Japan and Russia, who are opposed to the Kyoto deal.
The Chinese gambit was the most significant to come forward since the annual climate meetings began last week. The other conditions attached to the country’s offer are that rich countries deliver billions of dollars to help developing nations adapt to a warming planet as well as share emerging low-carbon technologies.
But additional Kyoto commitments for the period after the original agreement expires in 2012 is “the most important issue of Durban,” said Xie Zhenua, a top Chinese climate negotiator.
“I think it’s time to see who is acting in a responsible way to deal with the common challenge of human beings,” he said. “China is open in this regard.”
It may not be open in other ways, suggested Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada’s climate change ambassador and chief negotiator.
The move could be an important development in attempts to reach a longer-term climate deal that includes the world’s largest emitters, but he said Beijing has been less forthcoming behind the scenes.
“There are a number of clarifications that will be required, such as how much they intend to be transparent in reporting of their emissions. So far this year in all of the negotiating sessions they have basically refused to live by the commitments in the Cancun agreement of last year,” Saint-Jacques said.
“The devil is in the details.”
On his arrival in Durban, Peter Kent announced Canada would be putting forward $600 million this year and next in so-called fast-start financing to help poorer nations build up energy efficiency and clean energy development.
The pledge earned Canada rare plaudits from environmentalists, though they cautioned that money without political support around the negotiating table in Durban will ultimately be counterproductive.
About half of the money will be handed out as grants. The other half will be in the form of loans, which Kent said will help to leverage private sector investment and have a “multiplier effect.”
Origin
Source: Toronto Star
The Conservative government’s long-standing goal in global climate negotiations has been to replace the Kyoto Protocol with a signed deal that binds all countries with large greenhouse gas outputs to lower their emissions.
China took a huge step toward that eventual deal, on the condition that developed countries take on new commitments after 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol.
In response, Canada scoffed.
“That would not change our position,” Environment Minister Peter Kent said.
Countries are fixated this year on getting emissions pledges for a second Kyoto period because the agreement expires at the end of 2012 and a long-term successor agreement is still years away. If Kyoto lapses, so too do its rules, which govern global greenhouse gases, including requirements that force countries to maintain and publish annual registries of emissions.
Kent refused again to comment on reports that the Tories plan to file one-year’s advance notice later this month of their plans to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol. Such a move would brand Canada as the most activist of the developed countries, including Japan and Russia, who are opposed to the Kyoto deal.
The Chinese gambit was the most significant to come forward since the annual climate meetings began last week. The other conditions attached to the country’s offer are that rich countries deliver billions of dollars to help developing nations adapt to a warming planet as well as share emerging low-carbon technologies.
But additional Kyoto commitments for the period after the original agreement expires in 2012 is “the most important issue of Durban,” said Xie Zhenua, a top Chinese climate negotiator.
“I think it’s time to see who is acting in a responsible way to deal with the common challenge of human beings,” he said. “China is open in this regard.”
It may not be open in other ways, suggested Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada’s climate change ambassador and chief negotiator.
The move could be an important development in attempts to reach a longer-term climate deal that includes the world’s largest emitters, but he said Beijing has been less forthcoming behind the scenes.
“There are a number of clarifications that will be required, such as how much they intend to be transparent in reporting of their emissions. So far this year in all of the negotiating sessions they have basically refused to live by the commitments in the Cancun agreement of last year,” Saint-Jacques said.
“The devil is in the details.”
On his arrival in Durban, Peter Kent announced Canada would be putting forward $600 million this year and next in so-called fast-start financing to help poorer nations build up energy efficiency and clean energy development.
The pledge earned Canada rare plaudits from environmentalists, though they cautioned that money without political support around the negotiating table in Durban will ultimately be counterproductive.
About half of the money will be handed out as grants. The other half will be in the form of loans, which Kent said will help to leverage private sector investment and have a “multiplier effect.”
Origin
Source: Toronto Star
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