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Thursday, December 02, 2004
Letters Editor
300 - 1450 Don Mills Road
Don Mills, Ontario
Canada
M3B 3R5
Dear Editor:
Shifting the Kyoto target
I’ve noticed that many articles now indicate Canada is required to meet the Kyoto target “by 2012”. Professor Norman Cameron takes this statement as a starting point in his otherwise astute and lengthy assessment of Kyoto issues for Canada. (“Arctic Climate Debate: Kyoto’s killer costs”, National Post, 04/12/02, FP11)
Actually, the requirement is much more daunting. Canada’s annual greenhouse gas emissions are to be 6% below 1990 levels in the period 2008-2012.
Professor Cameron’s analysis would come to a much scarier conclusion if he repeated it on the basis the commitment begins in 2008.
The impression that the commitment does not come till 2012 seems a mistake initiated and perpetuated by the media through repetition. Perhaps our politicians are also focused on this target now. That could explain their relaxed attitude. The commitment will not need to be met on their watch.
Yours truly,
Duane Pendergast