From: Lindsay Telfer
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and the newly appointed Alberta Environment Minister Rob Renner have announced to the world that Alberta is not willing to fight climate change.
"Alberta can't make absolute reductions in greenhouse gas emissions during the current boom", said Renner, and that is the message that he is taking to Ottawa.
The day after Renner made this statement, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a respected international body that provides scientific assessment on climate change and impacts to the global community, released its Fourth Assessment Report. The IPCC Report demonstrates the global consensus that we are in a human induced crisis that requires immediate action to prevent catastrophic, permanent impacts.
Renner is attempting to sidestep his responsibility to Albertans to ensure a sustainable future and a healthy environment by claiming the provinces economic situation is "unique". By doing so, he is ignoring both the global impacts of climate change while continuing to burden Alberta's communities with a pace of development that can not be sustained.
Alberta can afford to step up its efforts against climate change, and as one of the wealthiest yet most polluting provinces in the country it has a major role to play in our fight against climate change. Instead, Minister Renner seems to think that Alberta, as a newly emerging global 'superpower' in the oil and gas sector, can rid itself of responsibilities and neglect the millions that will be left homeless, waterless, and foodless as the impacts of climate change sweep the globe.
Is this the message that you want Ottawa to hear from Alberta? Do you expect the Government of Alberta to meet the same standards as the rest of country and to live up to our International obligations? Take action today! Immediate prosperity and pleasing industry are not more important than healthy communities and a clean environment. Tell the Alberta government that we expect leadership. They can lead the way towards a new energy economy that will strengthen our communities, exist in harmony with ecosystems and provide for a prosperous economy.
Let Alberta's Minister of Environment Rob Renner know what you think about Alberta's Climate Change policy!
Phone, Mail, Fax or Email Environment Minister Rob Renner and let you know what you think about this position of the Government of Alberta. Make a phone call today using the above as speaking points or edit the letter below, add your own thoughts and reactions and send to:
The Honourable Rob Renner, Minister of Environment
#425 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton AB T5K 2B6
Canada
Phone: (780) 427-2391
Fax: (780) 422-6259
E-mail: [email protected]
I am astonished that the Government of Alberta is opposing action to reduce the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in Alberta.As you must be fully aware, on Friday Feb. 2nd , the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released its 4th report on International Climate Science. The report contained the most damming evidence to date on the human relation to global climate change and the forecast impacts of this trend globally, including: an increase in intense weather patterns; the disappearance of island nations; and the loss of arctic ice-caps and glaciers.
The impacts of Climate Change will not be lost on Alberta. Prairie rivers threaten to run dry in late summer due to the disappearing rocky mountain glaciers, massive fires in the Boreal forest, and desert like conditions in southern Alberta are only a few of these potential impacts.
We are in a time when governments and members of the global community must stand together to take meaningful and ambitious action to prevent a global catastrophe. It takes courage, it means taking risks, it means doing the right thing and taking action. Alberta's refusal to accept its responsibility is a global embarrassment.
Alberta must reverse this position and take immediate action to:
- Enact a plan that will see Alberta meet greenhouse gas reduction targets in the amount of 6% below 1990 levels by 2012
- Agree to long-term absolute emission reduction targets of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
Furthermore, as it is clear through these recent public statements, Alberta has no plan to address the raising green house gas emission targets for the Tar Sands, Canada's single largest contributor to growing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The only choice is to enact an immediate MORATORIUM on future tar sands approvals and leases until a plan is enacted to see absolute reductions from tar sands production in the province.
By doing this, and only this can Alberta join the world majority and take the first real step in a long term plan to fight climate change.
For the sake of all our future generations,
Signed......