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Canada facing Kyoto probe over greenhouse gases (UN .. 'Ose off, ey!)
Reuters on Yahoo ^
| 5/7/08
| Alister Doyle
Posted on 05/07/2008 3:53:16 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
OSLO (Reuters) - Canada will be investigated on suspicion of violating rules for registering greenhouse gases that are the mainstay of a U.N.-led fight against global warming, official documents show.
Canada played down the news, saying it was taking quick steps to ensure it complied by the rules.
Ottawa could be suspended from rights to trade carbon dioxide if found to be in breach of the rules by the enforcement branch of the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol. Greece was suspended last month, the first state to face such a sanction.
"On 5 May 2008 Canada was given an official notification of the decision of the enforcement branch to proceed" with a formal question over compliance with rules on registering emissions, the enforcement branch said in a statement.
The enforcement branch warned Canada last month that it risked scrutiny over alleged shortfalls in its greenhouse gas registry. It said Canada missed a January 1, 2007, reporting deadline by more than two months.
"A national registry is a computerized system used to track holdings of greenhouse gas credits, similar to the computerized accounting system of a bank," it said.
Canada's Conservative government said it had ordered a proper registry be set up and said final testing should be complete by the end of the month.
Environment Minister John Baird blamed the delay on the previous Liberal government, which was in power for almost 13 years until January 2006.
"We had 13 years of backlog and I'm only one man ... we're getting it done," he told reporters in Ottawa.
Proper tracking of emissions is the backbone of Kyoto, which binds 37 industrialized nations to cut emissions by an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-2012 in a bid to avert ever more droughts, floods, heat waves and rising seas.
If found to be in noncompliance, Canada could be suspended from Kyoto carbon trading. And it would also have to present a plan within three months to sort out its noncompliance.
Under Kyoto trading mechanisms, industrialized nations can meet their targets by paying for emissions cuts abroad, for instance by investing in wind farms.
Canada's emissions of greenhouse gases were 25.3 percent above the 1990 level in 2005, far above its Kyoto target of a 6 percent cut by 2008-12. Canada has said its target is unachievable, especially since high oil prices make it attractive to develop its oil sands, a process that involves high emissions.
Canada has also said it does not want to make up the difference from its Kyoto target by funding emissions cuts in other nations using carbon trading options.
The enforcement branch said Canada could not be found in noncompliance with its emissions targets -- something that could only happen after 2012.
The enforcement branch will hold a meeting in late May or mid-June to review the issue, with input from Canada. It could reach a preliminary ruling, or agree to drop the issue.
TOPICS: Canada; Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: canada; greenhousegases; kyoto; probe
Canada's Environment Minister John Baird speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa May 5, 2008. REUTERS/Chris Wattie
"On 5 May 2008 Canada was given an official notification of the decision of the enforcement branch to proceed" with a formal question over compliance with rules on registering emissions, the enforcement branch said in a statement.
The enforcement branch warned Canada last month that it risked scrutiny over alleged shortfalls in its greenhouse gas registry. It said Canada missed a January 1, 2007, reporting deadline by more than two months.
"A national registry is a computerized system used to track holdings of greenhouse gas credits, similar to the computerized accounting system of a bank," it said.
Canada's Conservative government said it had ordered a proper registry be set up and said final testing should be complete by the end of the month.
Environment Minister John Baird blamed the delay on the previous Liberal government, which was in power for almost 13 years until January 2006.
"We had 13 years of backlog and I'm only one man ... we're getting it done," he told reporters in Ottawa.
Pretty typical. Liberals always claim how they will get the job done if they are given a chance. What they mean is, give us another chance.
That's OK, Baird. the UN isn't noted for being particulary efficient or quick in responding to much of anything.
To: NormsRevenge; Normandy; Delacon; TenthAmendmentChampion; Horusra; CygnusXI; Fiddlstix; Timeout; ...
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To: NormsRevenge
...the enforcement branch of the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol...Sounds series...
3
posted on
05/07/2008 3:58:21 PM PDT
by
Oldeconomybuyer
(The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
To: NormsRevenge
The UN is giving the Canadians grief over administrative mumbo-jumbo, mean while Mugabe is still holding children hostage. When do we kick those clowns out of our country?
To: NormsRevenge
Make’em pay a huge fine and give the money to China to build a few dozen more coal burning power plants.
5
posted on
05/07/2008 4:00:27 PM PDT
by
Ben Mugged
(Success begets knowledge; failure begets wisdom.)
To: Ben Mugged
They should fine the Liberal Party of Canada...more specifically Jean Chretien. This government can’t be held responsible for the actions of previous governments. Especially when they made such grevious errors.
6
posted on
05/07/2008 4:05:07 PM PDT
by
AntiKev
("The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena." - Carl Sagan)
To: NormsRevenge
The Liberals never intended to actually do anything. Signing Kyoto was just a display of good intentions. In their mind set, the road to the moral high ground is paved with good intentions.
To: Oldeconomybuyer
Sounds series...
Series and HUGH!
8
posted on
05/07/2008 4:10:25 PM PDT
by
Edgar3
(Steve Spurrier for President!)
To: NormsRevenge
Hey my friends to the North, wear it as a badge of honor.
The Kyoto thing is just a socialist/markist plot.
To: NormsRevenge; GMMAC; fanfan
If found to be in noncompliance, Canada could be suspended from Kyoto carbon trading.Given that carbon-trading is nothing but a scheme to transfer wealth from first-world citizens to third-world tyrants I'd see that as a positive development.
10
posted on
05/07/2008 4:43:34 PM PDT
by
Squawk 8888
(TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
To: NormsRevenge
This is unbelievable and this is where McCain or Obama would take us...
To: Ben Mugged
First comes the famous “Sternly Written Letter”
12
posted on
05/07/2008 5:23:37 PM PDT
by
txroadhawg
("To compare Congress to drunken sailors is an insult to drunken sailors." Ronald Reagan)
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