Canada aims to propose new greenhouse gas emissions targets for key industries, including oil and gas, by this spring for implementation in 2010-2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday

OTTAWA, Canada; January 30, 2007.- But the new rules don’t mean Canada will meet targets agreed under the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

Canadian greenhouse gas emissions are 35 percent above where they would have to be in 2012 to comply with Kyoto, and Harper has said it would be impossible to meet the targets without huge damage to the economy.

“I can tell you that that is still our objective to announce short-term targets in the framework of a compliance agenda this spring,” Harper told reporters. “And we are, at this point, on track to do that.”

The minority Conservative government promised last year it would cap greenhouse gas emissions by major polluters, but not until sometime between 2020 and 2025.

The latest announcement confirms its plan to set what it describes as short-term targets for greenhouse gases based on how intense those emissions are, and to cap emissions of other air pollutants.

The government said in October it would consult broadly with individual sectors on proposed new emissions rules.

“The intent is to reach a decision, by spring 2007, on the overall regulatory approach, including proposed short-term targets for air pollutants and greenhouse gases to be reflected in the proposed regulations to come into effect in the 2010-2015 period,” a government notice said.

(Reuters)

 

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