Aglukkaq clarifies Canada’s position on GHG emissions

In response to an article that appeared Nunatsiaq News earlier this week about climate change commitments from the United States and China, I would like to make a few things clear.

Canada has always said that the cooperation of all major emitters is essential for any international agreement to be effective at reducing global greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions.

Combined, the United States and China account for 39 per cent of global GHG emissions, whereas Canada accounts for less than 2 per cent. So we welcome the commitments made by both countries last week.

Our government will continue to work constructively with the United States and China, along with all of our other international partners, to establish a fair, effective climate agreement that includes all major emitters.

At home, we are decreasing emissions while growing the economy and creating good, well-paying jobs for Canadians.

In fact, in 2012, GHG emissions were 5.1 per cent lower than 2005 levels, while the economy grew by 10.6 per cent during the same period. Indeed, per-capita emissions in Canada have fallen to their lowest level since tracking began.

We continue to invest in clean energy and move forward with regulatory measures to make further reductions in emissions. We have already regulated the transportation and electricity sectors, which are two of the largest sources of emissions in Canada.

And we have recently announced action to reduce hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs,) one of the fastest growing GHGs in the world.

As a result of our actions, GHG emissions will decrease by nearly 130 megatonnes from what they would have been under the Liberals. That’s the equivalent of shutting down 37 coal-fired power plants.

We continue to deliver results on the environment for Canadians without damaging the economy, like the Liberals and the NDP would do with a job-killing carbon tax that would raise the cost of living in the North.

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Canada’s Minister of the Environment and Member of Parliament for Nunavut

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