Canadian environment minister foresees difficult talks ahead of climate change deal
Cancun, Mexico (AHN) – Despite key agreements to create building blocks for a binding climate change deal, Canadian Environment Minister John Baird foresees difficult talks ahead to convince all major polluting countries to agree to binding targets.
Speaking at the close of the yearly United Nations summit on global warming, Baird said Saturday without a strong and effective agreement including mandatory commitments from large polluters such as the U.S., China, India and Brazil, it would be impossible to keep stable or cut greenhouse gas emissions in the next 10 years.
The Union of Concerned Scientists argued that while the Cancun decision creates a chance for the world to raise the collective level of emission-reduction targets in the coming months and years, it is not a guarantee of success due to the lack of agreement.
Summit delegates only agreed that a new round of Kyoto emission-reduction obligations must cover the post-2012 period despite clear statements from Japan, Russia and Canada that these nations are not ready to make such commitments.
Ottawa initially committed to the Kyoto Protocol, but backed out of it in 2006 due to economic concerns, including the U.S. failure to sign the protocol. Baird said Canada opposed extension of Kyoto Protocol targets to ensure that the next round of commitments will address the emerging economic giants and their carbon footprints.
The next climate change summit will be held in Durban, South Africa.
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