casper
12-17-2009, 10:54 AM
Canada pushing for climate deal: Prentice
CBC News
Violent protests and deadlocked talks await Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Copenhagen as negotiators try to finalize a climate deal.
Environment Minister Jim Prentice told CBC News on Wednesday that negotiators have been working “night and day” to try to put together an agreement that can be presented to world leaders when they arrive Thursday at the United Nations summit.
Harper faces heavy criticism from developing countries and environmentalists who accuse the Canadian government of failing to make concessions to help reach a deal.
But Prentice said Wednesday that Canada’s position isn’t limiting negotiations.
“Canada’s position is that we will reduce our emissions by 20 per cent by 2020,” Prentice said. “That position by Canada is not the issue that is a barrier at this point in time.”
Prentice called on the Danish hosts to pull countries together to create a draft text that could help push negotiations forward.
“We’re here to negotiate. We want to see a deal, but we have to have a process that we can move forward with and time is passing by,” Prentice said.
He also said that documents obtained by CBC News that suggest that the Tories want to harmonize their approach to cutting greenhouse gases with that of the United States and have considered allowing weaker targets for the oil and gas sector do not represent government policy.
Meanwhile, turmoil erupted Wednesday both inside and outside the conference in the Danish capital.
Police used batons and tear gas to break up demonstrations meant to disrupt the conference.
A police spokesman said about 230 activists were detained after they tried to get through the security perimeter around the Bella Centre, the suburban site where the conference is being held.
CBC News
Violent protests and deadlocked talks await Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Copenhagen as negotiators try to finalize a climate deal.
Environment Minister Jim Prentice told CBC News on Wednesday that negotiators have been working “night and day” to try to put together an agreement that can be presented to world leaders when they arrive Thursday at the United Nations summit.
Harper faces heavy criticism from developing countries and environmentalists who accuse the Canadian government of failing to make concessions to help reach a deal.
But Prentice said Wednesday that Canada’s position isn’t limiting negotiations.
“Canada’s position is that we will reduce our emissions by 20 per cent by 2020,” Prentice said. “That position by Canada is not the issue that is a barrier at this point in time.”
Prentice called on the Danish hosts to pull countries together to create a draft text that could help push negotiations forward.
“We’re here to negotiate. We want to see a deal, but we have to have a process that we can move forward with and time is passing by,” Prentice said.
He also said that documents obtained by CBC News that suggest that the Tories want to harmonize their approach to cutting greenhouse gases with that of the United States and have considered allowing weaker targets for the oil and gas sector do not represent government policy.
Meanwhile, turmoil erupted Wednesday both inside and outside the conference in the Danish capital.
Police used batons and tear gas to break up demonstrations meant to disrupt the conference.
A police spokesman said about 230 activists were detained after they tried to get through the security perimeter around the Bella Centre, the suburban site where the conference is being held.