Climate Change

Climate change is a phenomenon that must be addressed by all of us. It is a shared responsibility of every country, every enterprise and every citizen.

Canada is already a leader on climate change. We are among the world's most efficient users of energy and are a leader in developing clean technologies. This contribution needs to be fully recognized.

Supporting points:

• Canada exports vast amounts of clean energy to the United States, and this must be recognized.
• Voluntary actions by Canadian manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and switch to cleaner fuels have cut energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by 1.9 per cent between 1990 and 1999.
• Industry has made voluntary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over the past 10 years while boosting output by 30 per cent.
• Saskatchewan is home to the world's largest C02 sequestration project. This billion-dollar Canadian initiative is supported by Canada's oil and gas producers.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy will play an important role in helping Canada reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over time, consumers and businesses will be encouraged and provided incentives to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy where feasible.

For the foreseeable future, however, renewable energy will be more expensive and supply will be very limited. This is because technological and other problems related to renewable energy will not be solved easily or swiftly¹.

Even if consumers or businesses were willing to pay a high premium to switch to renewable energy, it will take years - if not decades - for supply to meet demand. A Made in Canada solution takes this into account and gives us time to adjust and develop the supply of reasonably priced alternative energy sources - without causing serious economic hardship.

¹For example, wind farms can only be placed in areas with continuously high prevailing winds. It was recently reported that residents in areas targeted for wind farms have complained about the profound and permanent change to the visual landscape from hundreds of giant wind turbines. This has already delayed and complicated the development of this renewable energy source.

Timetable for Greenhouse Gas Reduction

Canada's relatively high per capita energy use is a result of our harsh climate and our large geographic distances. We need more time as a nation to adjust our energy use.

A Made in Canada solution will provide a more realistic time frame for overall reductions in greenhouse gas. It will keep capital in Canada to invest in technology, research and development, rather than spending it primarily on international Kyoto emissions permits. And by spurring the development of renewable energy sources, it will increase supply and help moderate prices.

A Made in Canada solution won't punish Canada for conditions over which we have no control, but will allow us the time and the resources to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions within the context of our climate and geography.

Population Growth

About 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are caused by individuals heating homes, driving cars, and doing their jobs. More people and jobs mean more emissions.

Yet the Kyoto Protocol sets strict emissions ceilings without accounting for population growth. This penalizes Canada because we are a preferred destination for immigrants from around the world and have a growing population. At the same time, it rewards countries that have a net outflow of citizens.

Europe vs. Canada
Every time a person emigrates from Europe to Canada, that person brings their energy use with them. Since the Kyoto Protocol fixes each country's total permissible energy consumption, each immigrant to Canada represents a per capita gain in energy consumption for Europe and a per capita loss for Canada. Since Europe's population is stagnant while Canada's is growing, this penalizes Canada for attracting new immigrants from Europe.

Under Kyoto, Europe wins, Canada loses. The same logic applies to the 130 developing countries that have no limits to their greenhouse gas emissions under Kyoto and many of whose citizens immigrate each year to Canada.

International Trade

Canada is a trading nation and we compete every day in the global marketplace. A Made in Canada solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions will take into account our need to maintain healthy and fair trade relationships that create jobs at home while offering value to our trading partners.

We believe the Kyoto Protocol would seriously disadvantage Canada in the global marketplace and give unfair advantage to many of our trading partners. This is because our costs of production would rise significantly while the 130 countries exempted from emissions ceilings would see their production costs correspondingly drop.

Vis-à-vis our largest trading partner, the United States, the disparity would be particularly acute and would grow over time. The U.S. will not ratify Kyoto, and this reality must factor into our planning for greenhouse gas reduction. A Made in Canada solution will take this into account.

The Consultation Process

The Federal Government has announced ratification before conducting a thorough consultation process. This is the equivalent of getting a mortgage on a house that you've never seen at a price you've never discussed.

We are calling for a consultation process that involves all levels of government, and all industries and sectors significantly impacted by measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This process would involve the negotiation of specific targets and timetables and would have the buy-in of all parties. It would have the added force of an agreement made by willing partners with a shared vision and mutual interests, rather than a "zero sum game" imposed from afar.

Getting Involved

More than 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from the consumption of energy by Canadian business and by every individual who consumes energy or purchases goods and services.

This means three things:

1. Individuals and businesses will experience the most profound impacts of the Kyoto Protocol and have the greatest stake in whether or not Canada ratifies it.
2. While the contribution of industry associations and corporations to the debate is important, individual attitudes and willingness to change energy consumption patterns are key factors in the success of any plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Individual Canadians must be the driving force behind a demand for a Made in Canada solution.

The Canadian Coalition for Responsible Environmental Solutions strongly encourages every Canadian in every region of the country to get informed about the impacts of the Kyoto Protocol, to demand more information on the Government's plan and to make their views known to their elected representatives. This issue is too important to be left in the hands of a few Federal Cabinet Ministers or bureaucrats. All of us need to get involved and stay involved. We need to demand a Made in Canada solution that will protect jobs, strengthen our position as a trading nation and make Canadians proud.