Greenpeace today urged the Canadian government to heed the
warnings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
an international body of scientists, and take urgent action to
fight the climate crisis.
"The IPCC report puts to rest any possible doubt about the
science of climate change. It has been caused by the burning of
fossil fuels and deforestation. We are the authors of our own
destruction, but we have the power to reverse the damage. It's just
a matter of political will," said Dave Martin, Greenpeace energy
coordinator. "This is not a time for partisan politics. The verdict
of the scientific community is in, and the situation is urgent. We
need aggressive climate change programs in the upcoming federal
budget, designed to meet and go beyond our Kyoto commitment."
The report released today by the IPCC Working Group 1, entitled
Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, is the first part
of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). IPCC Working Group 2
will report in April on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability to
climate change; Working Group 3 will report in May on the
mitigation of climate change, and the overall Synthesis Report will
be released in November.
"Prime Minister Harper has clearly recognized the political
reality of climate change, but now he should acknowledge its
scientific reality and urgency," added Martin. "He can start by
meeting Canada's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
under the Kyoto Protocol. The elimination of subsidies for the tar
sands would be another good first step."
The IPCC is jointly sponsored by the World Meteorological
Organization and the United Nations Environment Program. Its
reports represent a broad consensus amongst 600 scientists and 154
countries around the world. The Third Assessment Report (TAR) in
2001 found that "most of the observed warming over the last 50
years is likely to have been due to the increase in greenhouse gas
concentrations". The draft summary of the AR4 concluded with
stronger statements:"Warming of the climate system is unequivocal,
as is now evident from increases in global average air and ocean
temperatures, melting of snow and ice, and rising sea level…. It is
very likely that anthropogenic [man-made] greenhouse gas increases
caused most of the observed increase in globally averaged
temperatures since the mid 20th century."
Last week, Greenpeace unveiled a new report, Energy
[R]evolution, detailing a global energy scenario achieving a 50 per
cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while allowing
increased energy consumption and economic growth.
VVPR info: For more information, please contact: Dave Martin, Greenpeace Energy Coordinator, cell: CA +1 4166275004 Steven Guilbeault, Greenpeace Energy Campaigner, cell: CA +1 5142312650 Jane Story, Greenpeace Communications, cell: CA +1 4169309055 Call