Stephen Harper said Sunday that Canada is preparing to make a contribution to a UN fund that helps poor countries cope with the impact of climate change, a move that follows a $3-billion donation from the United States. He did not specify an amount.
The prime minister, speaking at the end of Group of 20 leaders' summit in Australia, again lauded the recent deal between China and the United States to cut greenhouse gas emissions but gave no indication he would commit to bigger reductions on behalf of Canada.
He said he's really happy to see China, one of the world's major emitters, agree to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr. Harper said he's been calling for an "international agreement of binding obligations on all major emitters" since 2006 when he took power.
"For the first time, that is actually starting to take shape."
He didn't say how much Canada will pony up. Japan has also announced a $1.5-billion donation to the United Nations' Green Climate Fund.
In a deal announced last week, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping committed their two countries to targets that would see the Americans cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 26 per cent from 2005 levels by 2025, and fast-growing China halt the increase in its emissions by 2030.
The U.S.-China climate deal would seem to put pressure on Mr. Harper to make greater progress on reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions as he heads into an election year.
But the prime minister, whose government for years has said it would move in lockstep on climate change with the United States, its biggest trading partner, has not given any hint that Ottawa is considering bigger measures.
He did however say that Beijing's agreement is key. "China and the United States together, one and two, make up more than 40 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions,” the Prime Minister said in New Zealand last week.
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Harper says Canada will contribute to poor countries’ climate change fund - The Globe and Mail
The prime minister, speaking at the end of Group of 20 leaders' summit in Australia, again lauded the recent deal between China and the United States to cut greenhouse gas emissions but gave no indication he would commit to bigger reductions on behalf of Canada.
He said he's really happy to see China, one of the world's major emitters, agree to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Mr. Harper said he's been calling for an "international agreement of binding obligations on all major emitters" since 2006 when he took power.
"For the first time, that is actually starting to take shape."
He didn't say how much Canada will pony up. Japan has also announced a $1.5-billion donation to the United Nations' Green Climate Fund.
In a deal announced last week, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping committed their two countries to targets that would see the Americans cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 26 per cent from 2005 levels by 2025, and fast-growing China halt the increase in its emissions by 2030.
The U.S.-China climate deal would seem to put pressure on Mr. Harper to make greater progress on reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions as he heads into an election year.
But the prime minister, whose government for years has said it would move in lockstep on climate change with the United States, its biggest trading partner, has not given any hint that Ottawa is considering bigger measures.
He did however say that Beijing's agreement is key. "China and the United States together, one and two, make up more than 40 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions,” the Prime Minister said in New Zealand last week.
more
Harper says Canada will contribute to poor countries’ climate change fund - The Globe and Mail
