OTTAWA,
May 16, 2008 -As part of its international
obligations, the Government of Canada submitted
today its annual national greenhouse gas
inventory for 2006 to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
"While greenhouse
gas emissions have decreased in 2006 for
a number of reasons, we have to continue
the fight against climate change,"
said Canada's Environment Minister, John
Baird. "That is why our Government
is committed to taking real action to reduce
our greenhouse gas emissions an absolute
20 per cent by 2020 with our Turning the
Corner plan."
Total greenhouse gas
emissions in Canada in 2006 were about 721
megatonnes, which is a decrease of 1.9 per
cent from 2005 levels. Greenhouse gas emissions
in 2006 were 22 per cent above the revised
11000 total and almost 30 per cent above
Canada's Kyoto target of 558 megatonnes.
The decrease in emissions
is due primarily to a reduction in emissions
from electricity production (reduced coal
and increased hydro and nuclear generation)
and from fossil fuel production (as a result
of fuel switching and less oil being refined),
as well as reduced demand for heating fuels
because of warmer winters in 2004, 2005
and 2006.
The Government believes
that requiring mandatory emissions reductions
from big industry is the key to fighting
climate change in Canada, along with developing
green technology right here at home, instead
of imposing massive tax increases on working
families and small businesses.
Through its Turning
the Corner Action Plan, not only is the
Government requiring big industry to reduce
its emissions, but has invested over $9
billion on environmental initiatives, including
the ecoENERGY, ecoTRANSPORT and ecoAUTO
programs, as well as investing $1.5 billion
with the provinces on home-grown green technology.
To find out more about
the Government's Turning the Corner Action
Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Air
Pollution, please visit www.ec.gc.ca
To view the complete national greenhouse
gas inventory for 2006 and a summary of
trends, please visit : http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/ghg/inventory_e.cfm
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
+ More
Government Takes More
Action Under Groundbreaking Chemicals Management
Plan
OTTAWA, ON -- May 16,
2008 --The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister
of Health, and the Honourable John Baird,
Minister of the Environment, today released
preliminary findings for 16 chemical substances
identified as high priorities for action
under Batch 2 of the Chemicals Management
Plan.
"Canadians expect
their government to protect the environment
from harmful chemicals, and that's why we
are taking action," said Minister Baird.
"Our initial assessment shows that
four of these chemicals should be kept out
of our environment and as a result we will
be working with stakeholders to stop the
release of these substances at the source."
"Our recent actions
on bisphenol-A demonstrated our commitment
to protecting the health of Canadians,"
said Minister Clement. "Our government
identified these substances as a priority
for real action following our world-leading
categorization process, and today's announcement
is further proof of our commitment to the
safe management of chemical substances."
Out of the 16 chemical
substances, five are proposed "toxic"
to the environment. Four of these chemicals
are being considered for virtual elimination
which aims to reduce the release of these
chemicals to the smallest levels possible.
In addition, five substances are being proposed
as "not toxic" to the environment
based on new information received from interested
parties.
The six remaining substances
out of the 16 are proposed "toxic"
to human health; however Canadians' exposure
to these substances is very low. Potential
toxicity to humans depends on the dose received
and the way a person is exposed to a chemical.
The Government will
work with industry to further reduce exposures
to two of these six substances considered
"toxic" to human health. While
the remaining four substances can continue
to be safely used without posing a risk
to Canadians, the Government will apply
special provisions so that these substances
cannot be used in new ways that would increase
exposure to Canadians.
The notices containing
summaries of draft screening assessment
reports for all Batch 2 substances proposed
"toxic" will be published in Canada
Gazette Part I on May 17. The notices for
substances proposed "not toxic"
will be published inCanada Gazette Part
I on May 24.
The draft screening
assessments as well as risk management documents
for all Batch 2 substances can be found
on the Chemicals Management Plan website:
www.chemicalsubstances.gc.ca. Interested
parties can submit comments on these documents
until July 16, 2008.
Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
