The Western Canada Wilderness Committee in Victoria has been weighing-in for several years to ensure that the federal government enacts meaningful legislation and policies to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Below are a collection of several of our various media releases and news articles since 2002 on climate change.

*****************

TODAY: "Honour Kyoto" PROTEST to be held at Minister of Natural
Resources Gary Lunn's riding office in Sidney, BC

Thursday, Feb.1, 2007
11am-12noon
Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn's riding office
#1 - 9483 2nd St. (1 block north of Beacon Ave)
Sidney, BC (30 km north of Victoria)

"Harpers Hot Air Balloons" to be given out, speeches by Adriane
Carr (deputy leader, Green Party of Canada), Ken Wu (Victoria
Campaign
Director, Western Canada Wilderness Committee), Naomi Divine
(Chairwoman, BC Sustainable Energy Association), and others.

Today, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee will be holding a
protest in front of Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn's
riding office in Sidney, BC, to ensure that the Conservatives
honour Canada's original commitment to meeting Kyoto's emissions
targets.

"The Conservatives will still face a hell of a fight with
environmentalists if they break Canada's commitment to Kyoto's
targets through their revised Clean Air Act," states Ken Wu,
Campaign Director of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee
(WCWC) in Victoria, BC. "Is Harper Real Green or Astro-Turf
Green? The most important test is whether or not he honours
Canada's Kyoto commitments."

The WCWC, Canada's second largest membership-based environmental
organization (after Greenpeace), is concerned that the Clean Air
Act to be renegotiated on March 30 in a special, all-party
Parliamentary Committee may include targets weaker than those
stipulated by our participation in the Kyoto Accord. The
Conservative Party has displayed intransigence so far in
endorsing Kyoto's greenhouse gas emissions targets for Canada of
6% below 1990 levels by 2012.

"If we don't reach our Kyoto targets by 2012, the flexibility
mechanism of Kyoto ensures that we'll have to have stronger
targets in the second phase of Kyoto, likely in 2020. At the
least, Canada must not set a terrible international precedent by
being the only signatory nation that won't commit to meeting its
Kyoto targets," states Ken Wu. "If we're moving farther away from
Kyoto's targets, we need to take stronger not weaker actions to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If you're already over the 30
km/hr speed limit in the playground zone, you don't just say 'to
hell with the speed limit' and high-tail it through there!"

Kyoto is the only global agreement to curb greenhouse gas
emissions with hard targets which most of the world (141 nations,
including all industrialized nations except the US, Australia,
and Monaco) has already signed on to. It is the only
international mechanism to ensure that absolute reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale will occur. In the
event that Canada doesn't meet its first phase commitments to
Kyoto in 2012, the difference is added-on to the second phase
targets along with a 30% emissions reduction penalty. However, by
not committing to meeting Kyoto's targets, Canada will help to
destabilize the agreement by setting an international precedent
that other signatory nations may then be inclined to follow.

At any rate, it is possible for Canada to meet Kyoto's targets
through the establishment of hard caps for industrial final
emitters, strong fuel efficiency regulations for the auto
industry, a carbon tax as the Quebec government has implemented,
ending subsidies to the fossil fuel sector (in particular, the
Alberta tar sands), and a major expansion of the renewable energy
sector.

Recently, the Conservatives have announced some limited support
for the renewable energy sector in Canada, although it is far
dwarfed by the subsidies currently given to the fossil fuel
sector.

"Let's keep in mind that the expansion of renewable energy
projects is a means to an end - the ultimate goal is a reduction
in greenhouse gases, which will require hard caps. Adding some
renewable energy projects on top of the vast dirty fossil fuel
industry, while reneging on our Kyoto targets, is like offering
safe driving lessons while increasing the speed limit up to
dangerous levels - it'll still take us towards a climate change
disaster," Wu adds.

The WCWC will embark on a "Pre-Election Environmental Education
Campaign" with volunteers going door to door in key
neighborhoods, educating the public about the federal
government's
environmental and anti environmental policies. This will in
large part center on its policies towards Kyoto.

For more info contact:
Ken Wu, Campaign Director, Western Canada Wilderness Committee -
Victoria chapter
250-388-9292

*****************

*****************

January 12, 2007
Harper called "dinosaur" on climate change
By ROBYN STUBBS, 24 HOURS
Saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper was a "climate change dinosaur," the Western Canada Wilderness Committee called upon the federal government Tuesday to make significant changes to its environmental policies.

The recommendations included a renewed commitment to Canada's Kyoto Accord targets, setting regulations for industry's heavy greenhouse gas emitters, and reinstating Canada's Energuide program which gave tax rebates to Canadians who increased their homes' energy efficiency.

The WCWC's latest demands come less than a week after Ontario MP John Baird replaced Rona Ambrose as Environment Minister.
In the coming weeks, a special committee comprised of all federal parties will look at ideas for curbing climate change.

*****************

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Canada’s Prime Minister Harper “about as Green as the Alberta Tar Sands”: Renewed verbal attack against Kyoto draws environmentalists’ ire

Wilderness Committee to embark on “Pre-Election Environmental Education Campaign”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s renewed criticisms of the Kyoto Protocol has drawn the ire of Canada’s largest wilderness protection organization, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee (WCWC).

“Doesn’t Harper ever learn? I thought he was supposed to be promoting a new green agenda in light of the environment being the number one issue among Canadians according to recent polls,” states Ken Wu, Campaign Director of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee in Victoria, British Columbia.
“Harper’s new criticisms of Kyoto shows that at heart he really is a Climate Change Dinosaur. He seems about as green as the Alberta oil sands.”

On Sunday, Harper remarked to the media that “[climate change] is a real long term challenge…it can’t be fixed overnight. This country is headed to be 50% over its Kyoto target in 2012. We can’t tell the Canadian population to heat their home to one-third less of the time,” while Harper spokeswoman Sandra Buckler stated that Kyoto’s targets are “unachievable.”

“Canada will be 50% over its Kyoto targets if the Harper government lets it happen – which judging by Harper’s new comments, he may very well,” states Wu. “If our greenhouse gas emissions are rising farther away from Kyoto’s targets, we need to take stronger not weaker measures to meet those targets. And certainly Canada shouldn’t lead the way in undermining the Kyoto Accord internationally by being the only signatory nation to declare that it will renege on trying to meet its targets.”

Before the coming federal election, which some analysts predict may occur as soon as this spring, the Western Canada Wilderness Committee will embark on a “Pre-Election Environmental Education Campaign” where scores of volunteers will talk to thousands of households, door to door, in important neighborhoods in order to educate the public about the federal government’s environmental and anti-environmental policies. Volunteer environmental educators will hand out information brochures, circulate petitions, and tell voters to remember the environment when they cast their ballots.
 
The Harper government’s proposed Clean Air Act has faced intense national and international criticism for committing Canada to fall short of meeting its Kyoto emissions reduction targets of 6% below 1990 levels by 2010. The Act doesn’t set any firm emissions reduction targets until 2050, and also relies on reductions based on emissions intensity (emissions per unit of energy) instead of absolute reductions in emissions. Currently, the Clean Air Act has been taken to a special committee in Parliament, where the New Democratic Party is hoping to negotiate revisions to the proposal with the federal Conservative government in order to strengthen the Act so that it adheres to Kyoto’s targets.   

Last week, Harper also replaced former Environment Minister Rona Ambrose with John Baird, who toured amongst the toppled old-growth trees in Vancouver’s storm-damaged Stanley Park with Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn yesterday. Baird made several strong statements about the importance of tackling climate change and the disastrous effects of more extreme storms (which climate change models have predicted should increase in intensity and frequency) which have relentlessly battered Canada’s Pacific coast this winter. Baird’s comments seemed at odds with Harper’s statements that minimized the government’s responsibility to undertake strong measures to counteract climate change.
 
The WCWC is calling on the federal government of Canada to:
- At the very least, honor Canada's participation in the Kyoto Accord by working to achieve its emissions reduction targets.
- Enact significant regulations for heavy industry “final emitters” based on absolute reductions in emissions, not emissions intensity, in the near future (ie. by 2010, as stipulated by Kyoto). 
- Implement a national carbon tax, as the Quebec government has recently done, and as recommended in the Nicholas Stern  report commissioned by the UK government, released last November.
- Establish national automobile efficiency standards equivalent to those in California, where Governor Swartzenegger has set vehicle emissions standards that will reduce automobile greenhouse gas emissions by 23% by 2012 and 30% by 2016.
- Reinstate the popular Energuide program of the previous government which gave tax rebates for Canadians who invested in energy efficient appliances and home improvements.
- Stop the vast subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, and instead give tax breaks and assistance to renewable, clean energy projects like wind, solar, and tidal power projects.

 Some consequences of global warming in Canada include:
- More extreme weather events and storms.
- Increased frequency and intensity of forest fires and the dramatic spread of the pine beetle throughout dry conifer forests.
- Increased droughts on the prairies.
- Increased salmon mortality in the rivers (lower water levels, less oxygen, more disease) and in the ocean (less nutrients).
- Rising sea levels that will wipe out entire coastal ecosystems/ species and flood large parts of major cities
- Major increases in the extinction rates of species and ecosystems across the country.

Contact:     
Ken Wu, Campaign Director, WCWC Victoria 
250-388-9292

*****************


Nothing but hot air

Victoria News, November 8, 2006

A small group of Western Canada Wilderness Committee members and concerned citizens hand out Harper's Hot Air Balloons and circulate petitions and leaflets outside the constituency office of Conservative MP Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources last week. The event fell on the heels of the recently announced Clean Air Act of the federal Conservative government, referred to as the "Hot Air Act" by critics. The protest was the day before the United Nations climate talks began in Nairobi, Kenya. (Christine van Reeuwyk/Peninsula News Review)

Fri., Nov.3, 2006

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government
's proposed "Clean Air Act" doesn't set any firm
targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions until
2050. It undermines Canada's commitment to the Kyoto
Protocol. The act only focusses on reducing "emissions
intensity" (eg. emissions per unit of energy)
instead of absolute emissions reductions, so that
greenhouse gas emissions may still be allowed to rise
as the economy grows.

Please write to Conservative MP Gary Lunn and let him
know whether or not Canada should:
- honour our commitment to the Kyoto Protocol
- further pledge to reduce Canada's emissions by 30%
below the 1990 level by 2020, and by 80% by 2050
- institute a national carbon tax, as the province of
Quebec has done, to tax fossil fuel producers
- mandate increased fuel efficiency standards for
automobile manufacturers equivalent to California's
standards.

Write to:
MP Gary Lunn
#1 - 9843 Second Street Sidney BC V8L 3C7
Phone: 250-656-2320
Fax: 250-656-1675
E-Mail: lunnmp@garylunn.com


*****************

Environmentalists pressure Harper government to meet Kyoto targets

The Q - 100.3FM, July 18, 2006

By The Q!'s resident earth guy, Kirk Mason

A group of environmentalists is putting pressure on the Harper government to commit to meeting Kyoto's emissions reductions targets.

The group includes the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, members of the federal NDP, the Green Party and BC Sustainable Energy Association.

They intend to hold rallies across Canada, along with a national petition drive that local NDP MP Denise Savoie will present in Parliament this fall.

Organizer Ken Wu of WCWC says since they've assumed power in Ottawa, the Harper Conservatives have been deliberately undermining Canada's international commitment to the Kyoto Accord by scrapping more than a dozen major federal climate change programs. Wu also accuses the government of granting huge subsidies to the Alberta tar sands industry and the oil and gas industry in general.

He also takes issue with the government's contention that it's impossible for Canada to meet the Kyoto targets because many European countries are already exceeding the targets.

*****************

Environmentalists protest

Peninsula News Review, July 26, 2006

By Matthew Gauk, Peninsula News Review

Raging Grannies and other protesters listened to NDP MP Denise Savoie and Western Canadian Wilderness Committee campaign director Ken Wu expound on the federal government’s environmental failings outside the Sidney office of Conservative Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. (Matthew Gauk photo)

Environmentalists to PM: Stick with Kyoto

Canada must devise plan to fight climate change, say protesters

Victoria Times Colonist, July 19, 2006

By Cindy E. Harnett, Times Colonist Staff

Canada needs to take a stronger stand, not a weaker one, to meet it's obligations to reduce greenhouse gasses agreed to in the Kyoto Accord, said Ken Wu, of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, Tuesday.

Protesting the Stephen Harper Conservative government for sidestepping the Kyoto agreement in favour of it's own so-called made-in-Canada action plan for dealing with climate change, Wu said a massive citizens' effort must be launched to get Canada "back on track."

Environmentalists are demanding the government, "at the very least, honour Canada's participation in the Kyoto Accord by working to achieve its emissions targets for Canada of six per cent below our 1990 emissions levels" between 2008 and 2012, Wu said.

Federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose has faced continued assault by opposition parties and environmental groups since her government said Canada could not meet its Kyoto obligations and would not continue a $10-billion Liberal program to try to do so.

"This government has never rejected Kyoto. We have never pulled out of Kyoto. We are working within the Kyoto Protocol," Ambrose said in the House before the summer break. "What we are doing is putting a reasonable, achievable affordable domestic plan in place that will ensure that the mess that the liberals made out of Kyoto over the last 13 years will be addressed and we will make a success out of our made-in-Canada plan."

Victoria NDP MP Denise Savoie said, in an interview, "we have to keep pushing and pressing to demonstrate the urgency we face with regard to climate change." The federal New Democratic Party rolled out a five-point plan that will "not only see us meet our Kyoto targets, but exceed them," Savoie said.

She was a speaker at a staged protest, attended by about 50 environmentalists Tuesday, held outside the Peninsula office of Saanich Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn who was in Edmonton at the time.

Also in attendance were, Wu, Naomi Devine, chairwoman for the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association, Green Party of Canada deputy leader Andrew Lewis.

Lunn, in a phone interview, said the party's clean air, clean-water plan won't be fully completed or rolled out until the fall. "But it doesn't mean we're not doing things now," Lunn said.

The Conservative government has already established several environmental protection measures, including a biofuel strategy, and a tax credit to encourage the use of public transportation that will go a long way to reducing toxic emissions into the environment.

Lunn argues the former federal liberals, who signed the Kyoto agreement are 35 per cent above the targets they were committed to achieve. "It's a huge mess and it needs to be reassessed," Lunn said. "The focus on clean air [and clean water] and its impact on people's health, all of that stuff has just been ignored."

The Wilderness Committee is asking the Harper government to enact significant regulations for industry (not voluntary measures) to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to implement a national carbon tax, as the Quebec government has done.

*****************


For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

TODAY: "Save our Climate" Protest/ Petition Drive
Outside Conservative MP Gary Lunn's Office

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Time: 11:45 am - 12:30 pm
Place: Office of Gary Lunn, Conservative Member of
Parliament (MP)
and federal Minister of Natural Resources
#1 - 9843 2nd St (1 block north of Beacon Ave), Sidney,
BC (about 26 km north of Victoria)

Today, a group of concerned citizens will gather for a
"Save our Climate / Defend Kyoto" protest and petition
drive calling on the Conservative government to commit
to meeting Kyoto's emissions reductions targets. The
event will be held outside the constituency office of
Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, Gary Lunn, in
Sidney. The group, organized by the Western Canada
Wilderness Committee, will hold a brief rally with
speakers, placards, and banners, followed by a petition
drive to passersby in downtown Sidney. Speakers will
include:

Denise Savoie - NDP Member of Parliament for Victoria
Ken Wu and Heather English - Western Canada Wilderness
Committee
Naomi Devine - Chairwoman, BC Sustainable Energy
Association
Andrew Lewis - Deputy Leader, Green Party of Canada
Songs by the Raging Grannies

Since they've taken power the Harper government has
been deliberately undermining Canada's international
commitment to the Kyoto Accord by:

- Scrapping Canada's obligation to meet Kyoto's
emissions reductions targets, falsely stating that it's
impossible to meet the targets. Germany, France,
England, Sweden, and many other major industrial
countries are already exceeding their Kyoto emissions
reductions targets.
- Eliminating over a dozen major federal climate change
programs, including the one billion dollar Climate Fund
which in part was to be used for funding climate change
projects with 5 provinces, as well as the EnerGuide
Program that provided rebates to Canadians who invest
in energy efficient appliances and home renovations.
- Working to delay, obstruct and sabotage progress
during negotiations among Kyoto signatories by trying
to weaken emissions reductions targets, with a goal of
eventually eliminating the entire agreement, according
to a leaked government document.
- Granting huge subsidies to the destructive Alberta
tar sands industry and the oil and gas industry in
general.

The WCWC is calling on the federal Conservative
government of Canada to:

- At the very least, honor Canada's participation in
the Kyoto Accord by working to achieve its emissions
targets for Canada of 6% below our 1990 emissions
levels by the year 2012.
- Enact significant regulations for industry (not
voluntary measures) to reduce their greenhouse gas
emissions and to implement a national carbon tax, as
the Quebec government has recently done.
- To stop undermining progress in Kyoto negotiations to
establish further emissions reductions targets starting
in 2012.

 Some consequences of global warming in Canada include:

- Increased frequency and intensity of forest fires,
such as those raging in northern BC and Saskatchewan
this summer.
- Dramatic spread of the pine beetle throughout BC's
interior forests and boreal forests across Canada due
to a lack of cold winters that kill the beetles.
- Increased droughts on the prairies.
- Increased mortality of salmon in the ocean (increased
predation of young salmon by warm-water fish) and in
the rivers (less oxygen, more disease during spawning
season).
- More extreme weather events and storms.
- Rising sea levels that will wipe out entire coastal
ecosystems/species and flood large parts of major
cities (eg. Richmond, Delta, New Westminster, etc.)
- Major increases in the extinction rates of species
and ecosystems across the country that cannot
migrate/adapt quickly enough to rapid climate change.

For more information contact:

Ken Wu, Campaign Director, Western Canada Wilderness
Committee - Victoria chapter
250-388-9292

*****************
Kyoto plan lacks teeth, Anderson admits

Weekend Edition, April 27, 2005
By Brennan Clarke

During his five-year stint as federal environment minister, David Anderson was one of the chief architects of the Kyoto Accord on climate change.

But now that he's on the outside of cabinet looking in, Anderson isn't afraid to criticize those now carrying the Kyoto banner on his behalf.

Commenting on the federal government's recently released Kyoto implementation plan, Anderson said the plan relies too much on encouragement and doesn't do enough to mandate strict targets for reducing greenhouse gas.

"We could have done more regulation and less incentive," said Anderson, who lost his cabinet post after last June's federal election. "There's not enough precision to what they're doing."

The plan provides $10 billion to cutting Canada's greenhouse gas output by 270 million tonnes over the next seven years, including $1 billion that will be used to buy emissions "credits" from environmentally friendly projects in Canada or overseas.

The plan also seeks a voluntary commitment from the automobile industry to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 5.3 million tonnes, but contains no penalties for failing to meet that target.

"We have the commitment by the industry in a separate automobile agreement," said Anderson. "We're in for a massive increase in the SUV product line, yet gas is at more than $1 a litre... I would have preferred that industry be required to improve the performance of its fleet regardless of gas prices."

Local environmentalist Guy Dauncey conceded that the implementation plan isn't perfect, but applauded the federal government for at least moving forward.

"I think it's a good beginning and it's excellent news that after years and years of debate we finally have a substantial plan," he said.

Dauncey said purchasing emissions credits in other countries is almost as good as reducing emissions at home, since climate change is a global problem.

"All CO2 emissions enter the same atmosphere, so if we can't reduce our own emissions we can pay someone else to do it," Dauncey said. "That to me is quite an efficient way of going about it. It allows the free market to decide where it's cheapest."

The idea of purchasing credits in other countries emerged in part because Ottawa was unable to "persuade industries to pull their weight," Dauncey said.

Earlier in the process, Ottawa wanted industry to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 million tonnes, but that target shrank to 35 million tonnes during negotiations.

Ken Wu, spokesperson for the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, said the government let industry off the hook.

"We need to cut 270 million tonnes to meet our target under Kyoto. Industry contributes about 50 per cent of that, so we think their share should have been increased to 135 million tonnes," he said. "There's too much emphasis on individual and voluntary initiatives."

Buying overseas emissions credits is merely a convenient way of ignoring Canada's contribution to the problem of global warming, Wu said. "It's a way to pay off other countries to allow business as usual in countries like Canada."

There's also the concern that Kyoto cash recipients will not keep their end of the bargain, he said.

*****************
In Canada, economic growth outpaces emissions

Victoria Times-Colonist, February 6, 2005

By Cindy Harnett

There was a time when increased economic activity meant a parallel spike in greenhouse gas emissions. That's no longer true.

In 2002, Canada's economic activity doubled but heat-trapping gas emissions creeped up by just 1.9 per cent, says Wendy Avis, of Environment Canada.

And while the pulp and paper industry remains a major culprit in chemical air pollution, its toxic output is plummeting.

In 2002, Canada spewed out 728 megatonnes of greenhouse gases, up from 607 megatonnes in 1990.

Compare that with the pulp and paper industry which spit out 8.9 megatonnes in 2002, down from 13.5 megatonnes in 1990.

Kyoto won't cause the economic sky to fall, says Stu Clugston, vice-president of corporate social responsibility for NorskeCanada.

The company owns pulp and paper mills -- in Port Alberni, Campbell River and Powell River -- ranked by PollutionWatch in 2003 to be among the country's 10 worst industrial producers of toxic dioxins and furans. The report was based on statistics from 1995- 2001, which are old and irrelevant, says Clugston. "Emissions in those three mills have dropped 30 per cent while we've increased production 12 per cent," he says.

The company, which has another mill in Crofton and a recycling plant in Coquitlam, has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 67 per cent since 1990, he says. That year, Norske emitted 1,380,131 tonnes of greenhouse gases. In 2004, the amount was less than half at 458,804 tonnes.

Norske has reduced overall carbon dioxide output by burning natural gas and wood waste instead of bunker C oil. Meeting Kyoto 2012 targets isn't a problem, Clugston says. "We're already there. We're passed it already."

But, he says, "We think we have more to do. We're supporters of Kyoto because the impacts of climate change have huge business consequences for us. The Canadian pulp and paper industry is totally on board with it."

Industry is at risk, Clugston says, if forests disappear because of increased fires or bug infestations or other strange natural catastrophes attributed to global warming. For example, mountain pine beetles normally die off in the winter but are now surviving because of increasingly mild temperatures.

"Beyond whatever innate corporate responsibility position you'd want to take as a human being, you're also confronted by what kind of future your business may have if things don't get turned around."

Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard, chairman of the B.C. Municipal Finance Authority, says local governments support Kyoto targets and are "in the lead" in meeting them -- having initiated several energy-saving and sustainable projects.

Municipalities are even talking about pooling and selling carbon credits they expect to earn when Kyoto rolls out. The federal government's New Deal for cities -- $635 million for B.C. over the next five years from federal gas-tax revenues -- sets benchmarks for green and sustainable projects that meet the goals of Kyoto, says Leonard.

The industry that needs a whip is the auto industry, says Anderson, suggesting Canada look to California for comfort.

California introduced landmark legislation that would force automakers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their vehicles by 30 per cent in 12 years. Federal Environment Minister Stephane Dion is haggling with the auto industry to reduce emissions 25 per cent below 1995 levels by 2010.

In 2002, automakers wiggled out of the heavy industries list under Kyoto on the condition they would boost fuel efficiency by 25 per cent.

Dion won't rule out legislating restrictions.

"I know they're very important to the Canadian economy, but that's just too bad," says Anderson. "They are not going to move out of Canada simply because of a regulation that requires fuel efficiency."

Environmentalists are also urging the federal government stick to its guns and put strict compliance regulations in place.

Ken Wu of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee says reducing industry's emission-cutting targets would be "ridiculous.

"We believe that regulations and mandatory compliance are the only way to ensure Kyoto targets are met. Cabinet's own reports said voluntary measures are not working," says Wu. "Kyoto is quite weak but it's a step in the right direction."

Chris Genovali, of the Raincoast Conservation Society, says the retreats on Kyoto "illustrate the ability and power of resource industries in Canada to unduly influence government policy, both on a federal and provincial level."

Protecting B.C.'s remaining old-growth forests should be a key part of the agreement, he says.

NorskeCanada suggests everyone is losing perspective in this countdown to the deal becoming international law. "I don't think people should get choked up if it's a tonne here or half-tonne there," says Clugston. "The big picture is, we need a commitment here. We need everyone to sign up to it and we've got to get moving on it."


*****************

February 16, 2005

Kyoto Becomes Global Law Today:  WCWC Urges Martin
Government to Enact Mandatory Emissions Reductions
Targets for Heavy Industry

Today, the Kyoto accord becomes global law. Within the
"next several weeks", the federal government says it
will announce a plan on how Canada's greenhouse gas
emissions reductions targets (6% below 1990 levels) for
Kyoto will be achieved.

So far, the federal government has primarily been
promoting voluntary measures for individual Canadians
for meeting Kyoto targets, such as the "One Tonne
Challenge" where Canadians are being asked to reduce
their personal greenhouse gas emissions by 20% each
year by taking more public transit, undertaking energy
conservation measures at home, etc. However, these
individual voluntary measures are highly inadequate and
are largely being used by the government to deflect
attention away from the responsibility of heavy
industries to meet Kyoto's targets.

The federal government, under intense corporate lobby
pressure, is considering a proposal to reduce emissions
targets for industry from 73 megatonnes down to 8
megatonnes. The Wilderness Committee is urging the Paul
Martin government to enact mandatory regulations  -
instead of voluntary measures - for industry to
achieve, at the minimum, the full 73 megatonne
emissions reductions as originally planned.  Heavy
industry accounts for at least 50% of Canada's
greenhouse gas emissions.

Other things the federal Liberal government should do
to implement Kyoto include:

- Mandating greater fuel efficiency standards for
Canadian automakers, such as those passed by Governor
Schwartzenegger that mandates all automakers in
California to increase the fuel efficiency of all
vehicles made by 2010 by 25%
- Working with local governments to upgrade building
codes to raise energy conservation standards for new
buildings.
- Working with local governments to enhance public
transit systems.
- Halting approval for fossil fuel megaprojects, such
as proposed coastal oil and gas drilling off BC's
Pacific Coast.
- Greatly enhancing the renewable energy sector, such
as wind power generation on BC's coast, through greater
tax breaks and incentives.

"Unless there are mandatory regulations and enforced
caps for heavy industry, the federal government's Kyoto
commitment will be nothing more than a lot of hot air,"
states Ken Wu, WCWC's Campaign Director in Victoria.
"The government has enacted laws against theft, fraud,
and murder, yet for the greatest issue facing the world
that will threaten more forms of life than any other
single threat - global climate change - the Paul Martin
government is focused on individual voluntary measures
and absolving heavy industry of its obligations."

In yesterday's budget speech, the BC government
announced tax breaks for hydro-electric projects and
those who purchase hybrid cars, thus "making BC a
leader in sustainable environmental management".
However, the Gordon Campbell government opposed the
ratification of the Kyoto Accord, and formed a lobby
bloc with Alberta to undermine and oppose the Kyoto
Accord at every turn of the negotiations with the
provinces in 2002. They have relaxed regulations to
allow for dirty coal-fired power generation, promoted
gas-fired power production at the Duke Point proposal
near Nanaimo, given tax-breaks worth $5 million for
those who purchase gas-guzzling luxury cars in BC, and
are adamantly pushing the federal government to lift
the moratorium on coastal oil and gas drilling off BC's
coast.

"For the Campbell government to proclaim itself as a
leader in sustainable environmental management is like
saying Attila the Hun was a great humanitarian," states
Wu.

For more info contact:
Ken Wu, Executive Director, Western Canada Wilderness
Committee - Victoria Chapter
250-388-9292 (office)

*****************
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
For Immediate Release

Wilderness Committee says "Thank you" to Chretien and
Anderson as the House of Commons will vote today to
ratify the Kyoto Protocol

Western Canada's largest environmental organization
thanked Prime Minster Jean Chretien and Environment
Minister David Anderson as a vote in the House of
Commons today is expected to result in a majority of
MPs supporting Canada's ratification of the Kyoto
Protocol. The Western Canada Wilderness Committee
(WCWC) is Canada's second largest membership-based
environmental organization (after Greenpeace) and the
largest in western Canada, with 26 000 members and 30
000 additional supporters (donors).

"On Kyoto, Chretien and Anderson have proven themselves
to be brave champions of environmental and economic
sustainability," said Ken Wu, WCWC Executive Director
in Victoria. "It takes guts to do what's right for the
people and ecosystems of Canada in the face of a
well-financed opposition campaign from the oil industry
and their political cronies."

Chretien and Anderson have persevered to promote Canada
's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol this year despite
opposition from Alberta's Premier Ralph Klein, BC's
Premier Gordon Campbell, and Ontario's Premier Ernie
Eves and by much of the fossil fuel industry, most
notably Esso (Exxon Mobil).

"Chretien and Anderson are right:  The time for endless
consultation with the provinces is long over. All of
the provinces and the hydrocarbon industry participated
in formative consultations prior to December 1997, when
Canada and more than 160 countires met in Kyoto, Japan
and agreed on targets to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. In fact, Alberta actually co-chaired the
committee on Kyoto's implementation until this past
spring. Enough is enough. If Klein, Campbell and Eves
want to join the League of Dinosaurs and remain loyal
to dirty industry, then they're out of touch with the
people of Canada," said Wu.

The vast majority of Liberal, NDP, and Parti Quebecois
MPs are expected to vote today in favour of Canada
ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Canadian Alliance MPs and
federal Conservative MPs are considered to be the main
opponents of Kyoto.

Today's vote of confidence by a majority of MPs will
give a clear signal to Chretien to ratify the Protocol
before the end of this month.

The Wilderness Committee is concerned about the tenuous
and conditional support for Kyoto of federal Liberal
leadership hopeful Paul Martin, who appears to be
buckling to pressure from Klein and the oil lobby to
weaken Kyoto's implementation. Public opinion polls
consistently show more than 62% of Canadians in favour
of the Kyoto Protocol, which indicates the Canadian
public will hold any successor of Chretien accountable
for implementing Kyoto's emission reductions targets.

"Ratification of Kyoto will only be the first step,"
said Wu. "Afterwards, the government must commit to
action. It may be just the beginning of a long battle
to see real implementation of Kyoto's emissions
targets."

While the implementation of the first phase of the
Kyoto Protocol (ending in 2012) is clearly insufficient
by itself to stop global climate change, it will set in
motion the growth of the renewable energy sector, on
which the planet's future ultimate relies.

The impacts of global climate change on Canada's
economy and environment have been:

- a $9 billion loss of timber in the BC interior due
to pine beetle infestations which only cold winters can
control
- Canada being a net importer of feed grain this year
for the first time in memorable history after three
successive summers of drought on the prairies
- tens of millions of dollars in lost fisheries as wild
Pacific salmon stocks plummet as a result of changing
ocean currents and increased water temperatures
- the death of 16 000 Canadians each year due to poor
air quality largely linked to the  hydrocarbon
emissions, according to Statistics Canada
- the loss of 1.2 million square kilometers of Arctic
sea ice since 1978, likely resulting in the future
extinction of polar bears in the wild, who will not
have any means to hunt seals for much of the year

For more information, contact:

Ken Wu  WCWC Victoria Executive Director
(250)388-9292 (office)
Graeme Verhulst WCWC Climate Change Researcher  (250)
388-9292