NUPGE dismayed at G8 failure to tackle climate change

Meetings in Japan fail to take global challenge seriously

Ottawa (10 July 2008) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) joins the Climate Action Network - Canada in expressing dismay at a statement on climate change released by G8 leaders in Japan this week.

Many observers expected in advance that G8 leaders would, this time, give real momentum to the upcoming UN negotiations on a global climate deal. Instead, their communiqué offers virtually nothing beyond what countries already agreed at Bali in December 2007 and at the 2007 G8 summit. It seems the G8 leaders still have not grasped the urgency of fighting climate change.

“The G8 are responsible for 62% of the carbon dioxide accumulated in the earth’s atmosphere, which makes them the main culprit of climate change and the biggest part of the problem," says Julia Langer from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF Canada). “WWF finds it pathetic that they still duck their historic responsibility and refuse to turn from the main driver of the problem into the main driver of the solution.”

In 2007, G8 leaders agreed to “seriously consider” a target of reducing global emissions by at least 50% by 2050, without specifying a base year. The communiqué released Tuesday urges all nations to adopt that goal through the UN climate negotiations. The G8 also acknowledged that “ambitious” mid-term targets will be needed to reach the 2050 goal, but they failed to specify a target level for the medium term.

“Without a base year, we cannot be sure that the G8 target is even aligned with what the science tells us we need to avoid dangerous climate change,” says Clare Demerse from the Pembina Institute. “At a time when developing countries are coming forward with meaningful climate policies and proposals, the G8 leaders have been unable to make any substantive progress.”

Regression instead of progress

South Africa, currently participating in the summit, has noted concern that the G8 Statement on Climate Change, while appearing to be a movement forward, may in effect be a regression from what is required to make a meaningful contribution to meeting the challenges of climate change.

This year’s G8 comes partway through a two-year negotiation on a global climate agreement on the next phase of the Kyoto Protocol.

Launched in Bali, this process is scheduled to wrap up in Copenhagen in December 2009. The G8 communiqué calls on G8 countries to develop national plans to reach mid-term targets, and also “encourages the continuation of the science-based approach that should guide our climate protection efforts.”

“Unfortunately, the government’s approach to climate change does not reflect what the science is telling us,” says Dale Marshall from the David Suzuki Foundation.

“Canada’s 2020 target falls short of the science, and the government’s proposed climate policies don’t add up to even its weak target. To bring itself into line with the G8 communiqué, Canada needs to adopt a target based on science and dramatically strengthen its climate policies,” Marshall adds. NUPGE