Canada dilutes target for greenhouse emissions cut

In a letter to the United Nations, Canada says it's committed to a 17 percent cut in emissions, falling in line with U.S. targets.

By Reuters

Mon, Feb 01 2010 at 11:01 AM EST

Read more: EMISSIONS, GREENHOUSE GASES

CUT IT: Canada committed to a 17 percent cut in emissions from 2005 levels by 2020. (Photo: baekken/Flickr)

OTTAWA — Canada has trimmed its goals for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases and made clear it will follow the U.S. lead on fighting climate change, a move that prompted fresh criticism from green groups.

In a letter sent to the United Nations on Saturday, Canada committed to a 17 percent cut in emissions from 2005 levels by 2020. This is identical to the U.S. target but less than the 20 percent cut from 2006 levels that Ottawa previously promised.

The letter said the 17 percent cut would "be aligned with the final economy-wide emissions target of the United States in enacted legislation."

Environmental groups say Canada — one of the largest per capita emitters of greenhouses gases among developed nations — has a lamentable record and needs to do much more.

But Environment Minister Jim Prentice says there is no point adopting different targets than the United States, which is Canada's largest trading partner.

Graham Saul of Climate Action Network Canada said Prime Minister Stephen Harper has no intention of meeting the new less stringent target.

"They have announced a declaration of dependence on the United States and they are openly admitting that they are going to do as little as possible until other countries force them to take action. It is a disgrace," he said in a statement.

Canada's Conservative government walked away from the Kyoto climate change pact, saying it could harm the economy.

Under the original Kyoto accord, signed by the previous Liberal government, Ottawa committed to cutting emissions by 6 percent from 1990 levels by 2012. Output of greenhouse gases is now around 35 percent higher than 1990 levels.