Pressure On Canada Intensifies as Japan Ratifies Kyoto Climate Treaty

“It would have been unthinkable for Japan to have turned its back on such a vitally important international treaty bearing the name of Japan’s former capital city.” said Jennifer Morgan, Director of WWF’s Climate Change Programme. “Canada’s leaders should follow Japan’s example and avoid being the country that blocks entry into force of the treaty.”

Japan is the fourth largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) – the main global warming gas – after the United States, the European Union and Russia. For the Kyoto treaty to become international law, it must be ratified by at least 55 countries and by industrialised nations that emitted at least 55 per cent of the industrialised world’s CO2 in 1990. Although the United States has rejected Kyoto, the treaty will enter into force if, at a minimum, it is ratified by the EU, Russia, Japan and either Canada or Poland. The EU deposited its ratification instruments on May 31st in New York, while Russia’s cabinet supported ratification on April 11th.

Japan’s decision throws the world spotlight onto Canada, whose Prime Minister has said he wants his country to ratify this year. Canada will find itself under pressure when heads of state and government from the G8 leading industrialised countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the UK and the US) gather in Kananaskis, Canada, on 26 June for their annual meeting.

“Canada has concrete options for implementing the Kyoto treaty which provide economic benefits, increase our energy efficiency, and also make for healthier, less polluted cities,” said Julia Langer, Director of International Conservation at WWF-Canada.

Concerns that ratification of the Kyoto treaty will push Canada too far ahead of the US are unfounded since U.S. initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions far outstrip Canada’s efforts, according to a recent report by World Wildlife Fund and the Pembina Institute that compares action in several American states with Canada’s five largest GHG emitting provinces. A study commissioned by WWF and the David Suzuki Foundation indicate that Canada will reap net GDP, employment and per capita income benefits by implementing the Kyoto treaty.