KYOTOplus coalition delivers petition to Harper demanding climate action

The banners, totalling 220 feet in length, were the dramatic backdrop for a coalition news conference demanding climate action by Canada. The banners displayed the names of signatories to the KYOTOplus petition that calls on the Harper government to meet science-based targets for reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. The 100 groups in the coalition include organizations as diverse as the Canadian Labour Congress, Oxfam, the Canadian Islamic Congress, Amnesty International, the Canadian Federation of Students and Greenpeace.


Following the news conference, representatives of the coalition delivered a list of petition signatories to the Prime Minister’s office.

“Canadians are fed up with the Harper government blocking of progress at international climate change negotiations, and refusing to take action in Canada to help prevent climate chaos,” said Dave Martin, climate and energy co-ordinator at Greenpeace. “With the most important climate talks in history in Copenhagen less than two months away, it’s time for Stephen Harper to lead, follow or get out of the way.”  

Canada’s record on climate change makes it one of the worst in the world. That’s why KYOTOplus groups are calling on federal politicians to pass the Climate Change Accountability Act (Bill C-311), currently being debated by Parliament, and support significant cuts in Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.  

KYOTOplus is a campaign to mobilize Canadians to help convince the Harper government to become a leader at the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen, December 7-18.  

Read the full news release