United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change Homepage HERE

Are the Chinese Working To Curb Their Emissions?

Beijing's formulation of the {Alternative Energy Revitalization Plan} is yet another concrete illustration of the determination of the Chinese government to develop a low-carbon economy. It is also a reminder to critics of China's efforts to tackle climate change that Beijing is taking significant steps in realizing that goal. To be responsible in their criticism, those who care about climate change need to get under the hood and examine in detail the renewable energy engine that China is building and avoid the oversimplification that obscures a real convergence of interests.

The draft {Alternative Energy Revitalization Plan} that is working its way through the government is a case in point. Though the complete plan has yet to be released to the public, enough important details have filtered out to confirm that China continues to vigorously remake its energy infrastructure. 

Significant funds are earmarked in the plan to further catalyze renewable energy development over the next ten years: the Chinese will spend in excess of 3 trillion Yuan RMB [approx. US $462 billion] on renewable energy through 2020.  MORE

US carbon tariffs, still long way off, draw Asia ire

* Threat of future carbon tariffs angers India, China

* U.S. measures years away and could be hard to enact

* Issue likely to strain G8/MEF talks next week

BEIJING/NEW DELHI, July 3 (Reuters) - China and India lashed out on Friday at the possibility of tariffs slapped on carbon-intensive exports, even though analysts said proposed U.S. measures were years away and would be hard to implement.

Green protectionism is likely to cause unease at next week's G8 meeting in Italy and separate 17-member Major Economies Forum gathering. It is also a growing concern in U.N. talks that aim to seal a broader climate pact at the end of the year in Copenhagen. China, the world's top greenhouse gas emitter, said carbon tariffs would violate the rules of the World Trade Organisation as well as the spirit of the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol.

Carbon tariffs would "seriously hurt the interests of developing countries" and "disrupt the order of international trade," the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement posted on its website. MORE

Climate Declaration To Get Global Boost

WASHINGTON -- The U.S., European Union and 12 of the world's largest nations plan to embrace "an aspirational goal" of reducing emissions of global-warming gases by 50% by 2050, according to a draft declaration by world leaders set for release next week in Italy.

The draft, seen by The Wall Street Journal, sets up a framework for detailed negotiations on the issue ahead of a United Nations climate conference in December. But it leaves key areas in the climate-change debate in dispute. The draft is subject to change ahead of a meeting of global leaders starting Wednesday.

The declaration recognizes a "broad scientific view" that global temperatures shouldn't rise more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, but doesn't lock in the "two-degree ceiling" that some nations and environmentalists want. Global temperatures currently are about 0.8 degree Celsius above those levels. MORE

France supports greater role for Quebec in climate change talks

Paris, France (AHN) - French Prime Minister Francois Filion wants Quebec to play a greater role in shaping Canada's climate change policies. Filion showed his support to Quebec Premier Jean Charest in a luncheon meeting Wednesday.

While Charest admitted he could not impose on Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who to include in Ottawa's official delegation to the United Nations Climate Change conference to be held in Copenhagen on December, he stressed the French-speaking Canadian province has a vital role to perform in global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

He compared Quebec's role to California's lead in the U.S. to curb greenhouse gas discharges. Filion said, quoted by CanWest News Service, "It would not be abnormal that important states like Quebec be able to have their voice heard in the discussion."

Charest, said in a statement, "Quebec was recognized as a leader among the Canadian provinces in the battle against climate change.... I am convinced of the important role that Canadian provinces and territories could and must play in the fight against global warming. MORE

Opposition wants climate change action from Ottawa

OTTAWA (AFP) — The Liberal Party, Canada's main opposition group, warned the government Thursday against blocking an international deal to combat climate change, due to be negotiated in Copenhagen this December.

Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of "jeopardizing international climate change efforts leading up to Copenhagen" and hurting Canada's image abroad.

"While climate change threatens us all, the Harper government's stubborn inaction is leading Canada towards painful environmental trade sanctions and a costly loss of international prestige," Ignatieff said. MORE

Canada and Japan blocking climate-change deal, Sir David King warns

London —Canada and Japan were blocking a possible deal on climate change at the Copenhagen summit, Sir David King, the former Chief Scientific Adviser, warned yesterday.

Speaking at the World Conference of Science Journalists, Sir David said that the two countries had stepped into the breach left by the Bush Administration, which had strongly resisted cutting CO2 emissions.

“Copenhagen is faltering at the moment,” said Sir David. “The Americans are now fully engaged. But several countries are blocking the process.”

Governments previously were able to hide behind the US’s intransigence on climate change, he said, but the pro-climate policies being launched by the Obama administration means this is no longer possible. “The time has come for people to reveal their cards,” he told delegates. MORE

RELATED:

• G8 report card casts doubts on promises Globe and Mail

• Yes, we love our country, but ‘best in the world'? Get real Globe and Mail

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Under ACESA, some 7400 facilities across this country would be given annual allowances to continue emitting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. As many as 85 percent of the allowances would initially be given to polluting companies for free, reversing Obama’s campaign pledge that they should mainly be auctioned off. Meanwhile, the quantity of available allowances would actually increase through 2016, only falling gradually thereafter, and companies would be allowed to indefinitely “bank” them for future use, borrow from their future allowances, and finally trade them with other regulated companies as well as with Wall Street firms and an emerging cadre of brokers in carbon futures. If all this reads a little too much like the financial machinations that nearly brought down the world’s financial markets in 2008, consider that carbon market boosters are projecting a worldwide trading system ultimately valued at $10 trillion a year—perhaps launching the next financial bubble. All this potential for increased financial fraud and manipulation is for a mere 1 percent in CO2 reductions over the next decade, and a questionable promise of 70 percent by mid-century."

Brian Bokar in Counterpunch, Jully 2, 2009

Tory attack ad suggests Bloc soft on pedophiles

Minimum sentences remove judges' discretion, Bloc Whip says

A pervert in a plaid shirt is luring a child in a park, but the Bloc Québécois will not do anything to stop him, the Conservative Party says in a new round of attack ads.

The message, which was sent at taxpayers' expense in every single Bloc riding, features a blurry picture of a small boy leaving a park with an older man. The two are walking hand-in-hand, and a nearby kiddy swing is empty.

“Your Bloc MP has voted against the protection of children,” the tag line states. MORE

ONTARIO: Hudak urges HST rebellion

New Tory leader says McGuinty will retreat if Ontarians push back against harmonized tax

Premier Dalton McGuinty will retreat from some of the more punishing aspects of the harmonized sales tax if enough Ontarians protest, says Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak.

With the new 13 per cent levy less than a year away, Hudak, who won the Tory leadership on Saturday, said taxpayers have to take a stand if they want McGuinty to relent.

Hudak wouldn't say if he'd repeal the tax should the Tories topple the Liberals in the 2011 election. MORE

Groups refused standing at prostitution law trial

An Ontario judge has turned down a request from two religious groups and a conservative women's group to take part in a constitutional challenge of the country's prostitution laws.

Mr. Justice Ted Matlow of the Ontario Superior Court said that the groups would be liable to turn the trial into a soapbox for spiritual views, which would be out of place in a strictly legal proceeding.

Judge Matlow said that the groups struck him as being unaware that the challenge "does not provide a political platform where interested persons are permitted to speak in order to advance their personal views, beliefs, policies and interests at large." MORE

ONTARIO: Nuclear energy neither clean nor safe

Several assumptions need to be corrected. Canada's energy mix is 59.8 per cent hydro, 16.1 per cent coal, 11.6 per cent nuclear, 6.7 per cent oil, 4.9 per cent natural gas and 0.9 per cent renewables.

Hydro will continue to produce the same amount of electricity every year; however its proportion of the energy mix will decline due to net increases in demand. Wind generates power 30 per cent of the time, solar 20 per cent and other renewables 30 to 50 per cent.

Replacing all nuclear and fossil fuel energy sources with renewables by 2040 would result in this mix: 47.2 per cent hydro; 13.8 per cent wind; 7.2 per cent solar; 5.5 per cent tidal/wave; 23.1 per cent geothermal; 3.2 per cent other renewables, such as biomass and waste water.

This is a manageable expectation, especially in Ontario where we have made a commitment through the Green Energy Act. The GTA has made significant progress in both renewable sources of energy and energy conservation. MORE

RELATED:

We must look beyond nuclear energy for other options newsdurhamregion.com

U.N. to Study Potential Threats to Canada-U.S. World Heritage Site

Conservation photographers set for expedition to British Columbia's Flathead Valley near Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park

Decades-long concerns over energy and mining development proposals near a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Canada-U.S. border have prompted the agency to launch a fact-finding mission to investigate potential threats to the region.

UNESCO’s 21-member World Heritage Committee voted unanimously last week for a mission to evaluate and recommend requirements to protect Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park .

The committee noted that potential coal mining and coalbed methane extraction within the unprotected Flathead Valley in British Columbia, which lies west adjacent to Waterton-Glacier, could threaten water supplies and the broader ecosystem spanning the area. MORE

Why Parliament Hill's gong show goes on

James Travers

Ottawa

Frustration is the national capital hamster wheel. Here are 10 reasons for the futile spinning:

Liquid Cash

Somewhere, somehow, Ottawa spends nearly $300 billion a year. No one knows where it all goes. Ministers and mandarins spent decades perfecting covering their tracks. Now they can't come clean even when there's nothing to hide. The Star once tried to write a good news story on how much is spent keeping Canadians healthy and out of hospitals. The secret is safe.

Play Dough

Separating new money from old is almost as hard as following the dollars. There ought to be a Guinness record for the number of times a reannouncement is reannounced. This year's economic stimulus, 80 per cent implemented for those gullible enough to believe the television spots, is a contender. Even the Mother of all Spreadsheets – sold separately but, permanently out of stock – couldn't help you tell new money from old.

MORE