Posted: Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Canadian Labour Congress Comments on Completion of United Nations Climate Change Talks

The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) calls Canada's decision to formally withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol on climate change an international embarrassment that tarnishes Canada's international reputation.

The CLC led a delegation of representatives of Canadian unions to the United Nations climate change talks in Durban, South Africa, to press for an ambitious commitment and credible plan for Canada to reduce its greenhouse gas pollution as part of a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. The CLC also called on the Canadian government to do our fair share to support poorer countries to adopt clean energy technologies and to adapt to the effects of climate change.

The talks however were a failure of political will, and Canada put the final nail in the coffin with its announcement that it will officially withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol. Canada’s actions will only underline the global slide from climate crisis to potential climate catastrophe.

Over the past few weeks, the government of Canada has done nothing to deny the rumours that it would pull out of Kyoto. Despite its intentions to pull out of this binding international climate treaty, the Canadian government representatives tarnished our international reputation by joining the international negotiating table in Durban. Canada is now known as a country which doesn’t keep its word.

The formal announcement that Canada will pull out of Kyoto is an example of this government’s support for short-term oil company profits over the long-term employment, economic and social justice needs of Canadians.