http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/02/13/bc-speech.html
That means the earth will be dealing with "current levels of emissions" by 2020, and we can see what current levels mean - severe weather and increasing temperatures and rising seas, etc etc. Not good enough MrCampbell !!!!
By 2020 we could have had 13 years of action, 13 crucial years - NOW is the time to do the reductions, not 2020. BC could go carbon neutral by then if we tried.
He is ducking something, crafty old bugger that he is, by using "current levels" of greenhouse gases rather than the standard of 1990 levels.
"The aim is to cut those emissions by 33 per cent by 2020" syas the article
"Those emissions" have increased about 30% to 35% since 1990, and so he is really aiming to have BC's emissions levels at.... current rates???
Lets see - by 2020 we will have emissions at 33% below current levels, which are about 33% above 1990 levels. In between now and 2020 we will prepare for those targets, and that will take us 13 years? Meanwhile, emissions levels will rise, and the industry affected will complain that is too much increase to deal with, so they will be appeased and only have to cut back 33% from "current levels" [in 2015 or so]. Thats what I see coming at us, besides more severe weather.
HARD CAPS on emissions at much nearer dates - about 2012 - would be minimal action needed if they are serious about fighting global warming.
They are not even meeting Kyoto goals, which will be about 10% BELOW 1990 levels. And Kyoto is not enough, it was always meant to be a starting point. Campbell moved that starting point into the danger zone.