Green Party congratulates Australia on Kyoto ratification

03.12.2007

OTTAWA – Green Party leader Elizabeth May extended congratulations to Australia for ratifying the Kyoto protocol and urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to rethink his strategy to block international action on climate change.

“Newly-elected Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ratified the Kyoto protocol in his first act after being sworn in,” said Ms. May. “Mr. Rudd has pledged to do everything in his power to ensure Australia is a leader on taking action against climate change. Unfortunately for Canadians, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has taken the opposite approach. He has damaged Canada’s reputation since the day he took office by obstructing action to arrest the climate crisis.”

Ms. May added that there is every indication the Conservative government will continue to act as global saboteur as negotiations on the second phase of Kyoto begin at the United Nations climate change conference Bali. She noted that today, on the opening day of the conference, Canada has the shame of being awarded the third-place Fossil of the Day award from Climate Action Network International, behind only the United States and Saudi Arabia.

“Mr. Harper must drop his disgraceful stance on Kyoto and climate change and follow Australia’s lead by honouring Kyoto and playing a constructive – not obstructive – role in the second phase negotiations.”