OTTAWA (Canadian Press) – Youth groups are warning Prime Minister Stephen Harper that Canada’s future is at stake if he makes good on plans to cut climate change funding in the coming federal budget.
The Sierra Youth Coalition and the Youth Environmental Network issued a joint statement Thursday saying young Canadians want reductions in greenhouse gases, not in climate change funding.
“By cutting climate change programs and spending without reinvesting in new opportunities for clear action on climate change, Harper is cutting short the futures of all young Canadians,” said Heather Holland of Canada’s Youth Environmental Network.
“We are asking the Conservative government to invest in our futures by including climate change action in the pending budget.”
The call comes a day after a group of 90 top Canadian climate scientists and oceanographers wrote Harper calling on him to develop a national strategy on climate change.
Their letter cited several examples of warming, such as the rapid rise in Arctic temperatures, and warned climate change could result in more extreme weather, water shortages for farming and hydroelectric projects, insect infestations, forest fires and major changes in the North.
Harper has said repeatedly that Canada can’t meet its commitments under the Kyoto climate change protocol and will instead come up with a “made-in-Canada” plan to cut pollution and greenhouse gases.
Environment Minister Rona Ambrose has said the Kyoto targets – cutting emissions six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012 – are impossible to meet and Canada must set more realistic goals.
Last week, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn issued a news release saying 15 climate programs were being eliminated because they had run their course.
Media reports have also said the Conservatives plan to cut 80 per cent of Environment Canada programs aimed at curbing global warming, and slash climate change budgets in other government departments by 40 per cent.
Environmentalists across Canada say the opposition parties should defeat the government if it abandons the effort to meet Canada’s Kyoto commitments. They say Canada can meet its emissions-cutting target under the Kyoto Protocol despite government claims to the contrary.
Thursday’s release said young people are mobilizing before the budget is released to tell the Harper government they expect it to act on climate change and to put a plan in place that will result in “real and significant” reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The groups are calling on youth to send Harper, Ambrose and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty faxes of identification documents such as birth certificates, passports or driver’s licences along with the statement: “I was made in Canada, I live in Canada, invest in me. Invest in climate change solutions. Keep Kyoto!”
“Climate change and the Kyoto Protocol should not and cannot be part of a game of political Russian roulette,” said Elissa Smith, chair of the Sierra Club of Canada’s Sierra Youth Coalition.
“The time to act on climate change is now and young people of this country are looking to see this reflected in Harper’s upcoming budget.”
© The Canadian Press, 2006
Subscribe by Email!
Subscribe by RSS!
Share on Facebook
The Globe and Mail has picked up the following story from the Canadian Press:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060420.wclimat0420/BNStory/National/home
Youth groups warn against cutting climate funding
Canadian Press
Ottawa — Youth groups are warning Prime Minister Stephen Harper that Canada’s future is at stake if he makes good on plans to cut climate change funding in the coming federal budget.
The Sierra Youth Coalition and the Youth Environmental Network issued a joint statement Thursday saying young Canadians want reductions in greenhouse gases, not in climate change funding.
“By cutting climate-change programs and spending without reinvesting in new opportunities for clear action on climate change, Harper is cutting short the futures of all young Canadians,” said Heather Holland of Canada’s Youth Environmental Network.
“We are asking the Conservative government to invest in our futures by including climate change action in the pending budget.”
The call comes a day after a group of 90 top Canadian climate scientists and oceanographers wrote Harper calling on him to develop a national strategy on climate change.
Their letter cited several examples of warming, such as the rapid rise in Arctic temperatures, and warned climate change could result in more extreme weather, water shortages for farming and hydroelectric projects, insect infestations, forest fires and major changes in the North.
Mr. Harper has said repeatedly that Canada cannot meet its commitments under the Kyoto climate change protocol and will instead come up with a “made-in-Canada” plan to cut pollution and greenhouse gases.
Environment Minister Rona Ambrose has said the Kyoto targets – cutting emissions 6 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012 – are impossible to meet and that Canada must set more realistic goals.
Last week, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn issued a news release saying 15 climate programs were being eliminated because they had run their course.
Media reports have also said the Conservatives plan to cut 80 per cent of Environment Canada programs aimed at curbing global warming, and slash climate-change budgets in other government departments by 40 per cent.
Environmentalists across Canada say the opposition parties should defeat the government if it abandons the effort to meet Canada’s Kyoto commitments. They say Canada can meet its emissions-cutting target under the Kyoto Protocol despite government assertions to the contrary.
Thursday’s release said young people are mobilizing before the budget is released to tell the Harper government they expect it to act on climate change and to put a plan in place that will result in “real and significant” reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The groups are calling on youth to send Mr. Harper, Ms. Ambrose and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty faxes of identification documents such as birth certificates, passports or driver’s licences along with the statement: “I was made in Canada, I live in Canada, invest in me. Invest in climate change solutions. Keep Kyoto!”
“Climate change and the Kyoto Protocol should not and cannot be part of a game of political Russian roulette,” said Elissa Smith, chair of the Sierra Club of Canada’s Sierra Youth Coalition.
“The time to act on climate change is now and young people of this country are looking to see this reflected in Harper’s upcoming budget.”
The Calgary Sun picked it up too.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/04/20/1542493-cp.html
Youth: Don’t cut climate change funding
OTTAWA (CP) – Youth groups are warning Prime Minister Stephen Harper that Canada’s future is at stake if he makes good on plans to cut climate change funding in the coming federal budget.
The Sierra Youth Coalition and the Youth Environmental Network issued a joint statement Thursday saying young Canadians want reductions in greenhouse gases, not in climate change funding.
“By cutting climate change programs and spending without reinvesting in new opportunities for clear action on climate change, Harper is cutting short the futures of all young Canadians,” said Heather Holland of Canada’s Youth Environmental Network.
“We are asking the Conservative government to invest in our futures by including climate change action in the pending budget.”
The call comes a day after a group of 90 top Canadian climate scientists and oceanographers wrote Harper calling on him to develop a national strategy on climate change.
Their letter cited several examples of warming, such as the rapid rise in Arctic temperatures, and warned climate change could result in more extreme weather, water shortages for farming and hydroelectric projects, insect infestations, forest fires and major changes in the North.
Harper has said repeatedly that Canada can’t meet its commitments under the Kyoto climate change protocol and will instead come up with a “made-in-Canada” plan to cut pollution and greenhouse gases.
Environment Minister Rona Ambrose has said the Kyoto targets – cutting emissions six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012 – are impossible to meet and Canada must set more realistic goals.
Last week, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn issued a news release saying 15 climate programs were being eliminated because they had run their course.
Media reports have also said the Conservatives plan to cut 80 per cent of Environment Canada programs aimed at curbing global warming, and slash climate change budgets in other government departments by 40 per cent.
Environmentalists across Canada say the opposition parties should defeat the government if it abandons the effort to meet Canada’s Kyoto commitments. They say Canada can meet its emissions-cutting target under the Kyoto Protocol despite government claims to the contrary.
Thursday’s release said young people are mobilizing before the budget is released to tell the Harper government they expect it to act on climate change and to put a plan in place that will result in “real and significant” reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The groups are calling on youth to send Harper, Ambrose and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty faxes of identification documents such as birth certificates, passports or driver’s licences along with the statement: “I was made in Canada, I live in Canada, invest in me. Invest in climate change solutions. Keep Kyoto!”
“Climate change and the Kyoto Protocol should not and cannot be part of a game of political Russian roulette,” said Elissa Smith, chair of the Sierra Club of Canada’s Sierra Youth Coalition.
“The time to act on climate change is now and young people of this country are looking to see this reflected in Harper’s upcoming budget.”
We’ve made the press, now we have to change the budget!
“Youth groups warn Harper against cutting climate change funding”
[le français suit]
Stephen Harper’s arguing for a “made in Canada” solution to climate change, but just slashed funding for domestic climate change programmes by 80%, and is resolved to cut a further 40% from other ministries’ climate change programmes. Submit your priorities for the federal government… write today and keep the message coming ALL WEEK LONG!
LET’S SEND THE MESSAGE THAT CANADIANS WANT A STRONG GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO MITIGAGE CLIMATE CHANGE!!
Read Globe & Mail story
Canadians care about climate change and want our government to work with the rest of the world by reducing our national emissions and staying committed to the Kyoto Protocol.
Join with other activists to send this message to the government, TODAY!
1. “I am a made in Canada solution ” Action to the Prime Minister’s Office
2. Write to your Member of Parliament
1. I AM MADE IN CANADA SOLUTION
Send a fax of your birth certificate or passport (with as much info showing as they feel comfy but it MUST show name and country of birth/residence: “Canada” showing) to the Prime Minister’s office and Environment Canada.
Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty: Fax 613-992-8320
Prime Minister, Stephen Harper: Fax 613-941-6900
Minister of Environment, Rona Ambroise: Fax: 613-996-0785
Along with the Message:
<>
I was made in Canada/I live in Canada.
Invest in me.
Invest in climate change solutions.
Keep Kyoto!
<>
2. WRITE TO YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
Write your Member of Parliament, and tell them that funding for climate change initiatives in Canada is YOUR priority.
If an MP receives 100 letters on a subject, he/she MUST bring it up in the House of Commons. Find your MP at http://www.elections.ca or http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E
Tell him/her that:
-Investing in youth climate change and environmental initiatives creates a new generation of Canadian leaders and innovators.
-Cutting funding to Climate Change initiatives hurts our international reputation.
-A transit subsidy is NOT an effective or a sufficient way to reduce greenhouse gases in our atmosphere
-I am a Canadian solution to climate change and many of the programs CUT BY THIS GOVERNMENT were creating real solutions. Our government needs to invest in climate change solutions and do more, not less!
Je suis spécifiquement canadien!
Le gouvernement Harper dit préférer un plan “spécifiquement canadien”, toutefois ce même gouvernement vient tout juste de couper les programmes de changements climatiques au niveau domestique par un total de 80% chez Environnement Canada. D’ailleurs, plus de 15 programmes seront mises à fin selon un communiqué diffusé par Ressources Naturelles Canada et un reportage de Radio-Canada:
http://radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2006/04/14/003-envir-Harper-defend.shtml
Espérons qu’il n’anticipe pas réduire le salaire minimum, car il nous est difficile d’imaginer un Canada sans fonds.
Joignez-vous à d’autres citoyens inquiets et prenez action dès maintenant!
Faites parvenir par fax une copie de votre certificat de naissance ou de votre passeport au bureau du Premier Ministre et d’Environnement Canada, en y incluant au minimum votre nom et pays de naissance/résidence (le mot “Canada” doit être en évidence)
Ajoutez-y:
Votre nom
“Je suis spécifiquement canadien”
“Investissez dans les solutions aux changements climatiques”
“Investissez dans MOI”.
Signature, date.
Numéros de Télécopieurs:
Cabinet du Premier Ministre: 613-941-6900
Environnement Canada: (819) 994-1412
Écrivez à vos député!
Écrivez une lettre à vos député (es) et dites leurs que le financement des intiatives reliées aux changements climatiques est pour vous une priorité. Si un député reçoit 100 lettres du même sujet, il doit nécessairement soulever la question dans la Chambre des communes à Ottawa.
Dites leurs aussi que:
-Investir dans les initiatives de jeunes reliés aux changements climatiques et la protection de l’environnement, c’est investir dans une nouvelle génération d’innovateurs et leaders canadiens.
-La réduction de la portion du budget accordé aux changements climatiques nuit à notre réputation internationale.
-Le subventionnement du transport en commun n’est pas la façon la plus économe de réduire nos émissions de gaz à effet de serre.
-Dites au Gouvernement Harper qu’il existe déjà un plan pour combattre les changements climatiques. Nous devons y ajouter et non y soustraire.
Scientists, youth urge Harper to work on climate change
But government may link up with U.S. on environmental cleanup
John England, a long-time Arctic researcher, signed a letter asking Stephen Harper to come up with a “substantive and strategic” plan to fight climate change.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is under pressure to say how Canada plans to tackle climate change.
That’s because his government has already started slashing the Liberals’ climate change programs — and many worry how these will be replaced.
“Deal with climate change” was the message, which a group of 90 climate scientists delivered to Harper last week in a letter, urging him to provide “national leadership” in addressing climate change.
“We urge you and your government to develop an effective national strategy to deal with the many important aspects of climate that will affect both Canada and the rest of the world in the near future,” says the letter, dated April 18.
Youth groups also warned Harper that Canada ’s future is at stake. The Sierra Youth Coalition and the Youth Environmental Network issued a joint statement, saying young Canadians want to see cuts to greenhouse gases, not to climate change funding.
By late last week, Harper was sending out signals that he does indeed have a new climate change strategy up his sleeve.
And it looks as if Harper is mulling over a climate change strategy, which is similar to that promoted by Conservatives in the UK . They’re calling for a formula that would rely on business to clean up the environment. This strategy would use the tax system and market mechanisms to encourage investment in clean energy technology.
This market-based approach to fighting climate change also appeals to the U.S. government, which has rejected the emission reduction targets set in the Kyoto Protocol.
“We do have a ‘made in Canada’ plan to resolve the problem of pollution and also greenhouse gases,” Harper told reporters in Montreal.
“But in order to resolve these issues, in this continent and within our economy, we have to have the participation of the United States . Otherwise, really, there won’t be much impact from our efforts… I think you have to try and achieve success at the international level, at the continental level and also at the national level. And our government is looking at all the options.”
Mounting concern over Canada’s new direction on climate change follows a recent announcement by the federal government that it is cutting 15 climate change programs, including the much publicized “One-Tonne Challenge,” which asked Canadians to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by one tonne.
The Conservatives have said they plan to cut 80 per cent of Environment Canada programs aimed at curbing global warming, and reduce climate change budgets in other government departments by 40 per cent.
Among the other possible cuts are the $260-million the Liberals pledged to the United Nations to fund its international climate change programs and federal funding for wind power projects.
Canada ’s official support for the Kyoto Protocol and its targeted cuts on greenhouse gas emissions is also softening. Environment Minister Rona Ambrose has said it’s impossible to meet Canada’s Kyoto targets — that is, cutting greenhouse gas emissions six per cent below 1990 levels by 2012 — and that Canada must set more realistic goals.
“We can’t dismember Kyoto. A lot of thought and care went into that and it gave us a lot of flexibility to design our own program. It’s one thing to say we can improve on it, but another to have to come up with something substantive and strategic,” said Dr. John England, a long-time Arctic researcher from the University of Alberta, who signed the recent letter to Harper.
“I think the letter is very important, and it’s especially important to northerners because they’re carrying the brunt of this fundamental change that is going on. Hopefully, the new administration listens carefully to this request for thoughtful consideration.”
The 90 concerned scientists say they’re willing to help Harper on climate change policy in any way.
Meanwhile, youth groups are calling on youth to send Harper, Ambrose and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty faxes of identification documents such as birth certificates, passports or driver’s licenses, along with the statement: “I was made in Canada , I live in Canada , invest in me. Invest in climate change solutions. Keep Kyoto !”
40% cuts to Canada’s climate change programs? Listen to Podcast here
An action packed earth day episode. An exposé on an open letter from Kyoto-skeptics and discussion about the future of climate change programs under the Harper government.
Includes interviews with:
Remember to post your feedback! We still need your input in order to get a regular show established.