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Canada has trimmed its goals for cutting emissions of greenhouse
gases and made clear it will follow the US lead on fighting
climate change, a move that prompted fresh criticism from
green groups.
In a letter sent to the United Nations, Canada committed
to a 17 per cent cut in emissions from 2005 levels by 2020.
This is identical to the US target, but less than the 20 per
cent cut from 2006 levels that Ottawa previously promised.
The letter said the 17 per cent cut would 'be aligned
with the final economy-wide emissions target of the United
States in enacted legislation'.
Environmental groups say Canada - one of the largest per
capita emitters of greenhouses gases among developed nations
- has a lamentable record and needs to do much more. However,
Environment Minister Jim Prentice says there is no point adopting
different targets than the United States, which is Canada's
largest trading partner.
Graham Saul of Climate Action Network Canada said Prime Minister
Stephen Harper has no intention of meeting the new less stringent
target. "They have announced a declaration of dependence on
the United States and they are openly admitting that they
are going to do as little as possible until other countries
force them to take action. It is a disgrace," he said in a
statement.
Canada's Conservative government walked away from the Kyoto
climate change pact, saying it could harm the economy.
Under the original Kyoto accord, signed by the previous Liberal
government, Ottawa committed to cutting emissions by 6 per
cent from 1990 levels by 2012. Output of greenhouse gases
is now around 35 per cent higher than 1990 levels.
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