Guelph Mercury – December 04, 2010 – The Canadian Press
CANCUN, Mexico – Canada has reportedly aligned itself with Russia and Japan to block the extension of the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012. U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres says Canada is one of three countries among the 36 signatories that’s opposed to extending their emission targets under the pact.
The move by the Harper government has sparked criticism from environmentalists and opposition politicians, who argue Canada is now holding back talks at a climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico.
Japan said earlier this week it was not interested in negotiating an extension of the Kyoto targets, arguing it was pointless unless the world’s largest polluters — China and the United States — also accepted binding targets.
The U.S. has rejected the Kyoto accord since it was negotiated 13 years ago, partly because it made no demands on rapidly developing countries like China and India.
