Greenhouse gas emissions shock scientists Carbon dioxide output is rising rather than falling, despite efforts to curb it. 'It's scary,' one researcher says. From Times Wire Services September 26, 2008
WASHINGTON -- The world pumped up emissions of the chief human-produced global warming gas last year, setting a course that could push beyond leading scientists' projected worst-case scenario, international researchers said Thursday.
The new numbers, which some scientists called "scary," were a surprise because experts thought an economic downturn would slow energy use. Instead, carbon dioxide output rose 3% from 2006 to 2007.
That amount exceeds the most dire outlook for emissions from burning coal and oil and related activities as projected by a Nobel Prize-winning group of international scientists in 2007.
Meanwhile, forests and oceans, which suck up carbon dioxide, are doing so at lower rates, scientists said. If those trends continue, the world will be on track for the highest predicted rises in temperature and sea level.
Carbon Is Building Up in Atmosphere Faster Than Predicted
By Juliet Eilperin Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, September 26, 2008; Page A02
The rise in global carbon dioxide emissions last year outpaced international researchers' most dire projections, according to figures being released today, as human-generated greenhouse gases continued to build up in the atmosphere despite international agreements and national policies aimed at curbing climate change.
In 2007, carbon released from burning fossil fuels and producing cement increased 2.9 percent over that released in 2006, to a total of 8.47 gigatons, or billions of metric tons, according to the Australia-based Global Carbon Project, an international consortium of scientists that tracks emissions. This output is at the very high end of scenarios outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and could translate into a global temperature rise of more than 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, according to the panel's estimates.
NDP's Layton draws inspiration from Obama Posted By JENNIFER DITCHBURN, THE CANADIAN PRESS
As election fever heated up in late August, NDP Leader Jack Layton headed south to Denver, to watch Barack Obama's historic acceptance of the Democratic party's presidential nomination.
He said he found inspiration in Obama's agenda of change.
A new relationship with Canada’s first nations, inuit and métis
From the Liberal Platform
Over the course of our mandate, a Liberal government will bring back the Kelowna Accord killed by the Conservative government. We will also fulfill the commitments within the First Nations-Crown Political Accord, the Inuit Partnership Accord, the Métis Nation Framework Agreement, and the Accords on Cooperative Development between the federal government and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and Native Women’s Association of Canada.
Premiers and Territorial Leaders have also committed to build a new relationship and have called for the Prime Minister to hold a First Ministers’ Meeting on aboriginal issues. Regrettably, Stephen Harper has not called such a meeting after nearly three years in office. A Liberal government would hold such a meeting within the first six months of coming into office.
On the international stage, the Conservatives demonstrated their lack of concern and respect for Canada’s aboriginal population by being one of only four governments in the world that to vote against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This marked the first time in its history that Canada has failed to commit to a major international human rights treaty. A Liberal government will reverse this historical disgrace, sign and ratify the Declaration and show the world that Canada can be a leader in its treatment of its aboriginal population.
With the Residential Schools Apology and the start of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Canada and its Aboriginal peoples have begun to forge a new relationship. We now have an opportunity to strengthen this relationship and we must not miss it. But restoring Kelowna is only a starting point. Long standing grievances must also be addressed.
A Liberal government will be committed to renewing the Métis Nation’s partnership in Confederation. We recognize the Métis right to self-government and will convene a table of negotiation for Métis jurisdiction and authority, including lands and resources and economic and fiscal arrangements. We will not ignore our federal fiduciary responsibility for the Métis Nation and all Aboriginal Peoples.
Where modern land claims agreements exist, a Liberal government will respect and uphold the spirit and intent of these agreements. We will also work towards establishment of an independent body to resolve comprehensive claims and to ensure that self-government agreements are respected and fully implemented.
A Liberal government will also work jointly with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to establish an open and transparent process for the joint development of a federal policy for consultation and accommodation. As the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled, the federal and provincial Crown has a legal duty to consult, and, where appropriate, accommodate when Crown conduct may adversely impact established or potential aboriginal and treaty rights.
We would improve access to health care for First Nations children by ensuring children in need of health care are not denied the care they need because of jurisdictional squabbles between different orders of government or different departments within the same level of government. “Jordan’s Principle” calls for the needs of the child to be put first, ahead of jurisdictional disputes. A new Liberal government will work with other orders of governments on a policy that would require the agency of first contact to pay and establish a mechanism to resolve the disputes - after the needs of the child are addressed. To resolve these disputes at the federal level, a new Liberal government will enact a Jordan’s Principle law, based on an existing Liberal Member’s Private Member’s bill, which will require the federal department of first contact to pay for the required services and to seek resolution later so that children are not denied the services they need.
Eliminating violence against aboriginal women will also be a priority. A Liberal government will adopt a nation-wide violence prevention strategy that allows for regional and jurisdictional flexibility in policy, programming and funding.
In recognition of the fact that a one-size fits all approach to First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations is unproductive, a Liberal government will work with aboriginal organizations to ensure the green shift takes into account their specific needs and realities. To assist in accomplishing this goal, a Liberal government will re-establish the First Nations’ Advisory Committee that the Conservatives abolished.
A Liberal government will also create a new Joint National Climate Change Advisory Panel to foster joint initiatives between the Government of Canada and First Nations, Métis and Inuit on climate change mitigation policies.
Facilitating the participation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in the labour market is key to closing the gap in employment outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Canadians. A Liberal government will ensure that the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy is renewed and that the national aboriginal organizations involved in this strategy continue to be its main stakeholders.
As a country we must ensure that we hear the voices of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in their own languages, and that these aboriginal voices and languages continue to enrich the cultural heritage of the world. A Liberal government will enhance the Aboriginal Languages Initiative to support the preservation, revitalization and promotion of Aboriginal languages and restore the unjustifiable cuts to this initiative by the Conservatives.
Aboriginal Peoples, who represent the fastest-growing part of Canada’s population and a significant portion of our country’s young people, must have full opportunities to help Canada thrive in the 21st century. This is a matter of social justice and a condition of Canada’s continued success.
We can not be intimidated by the scale of the challenge or discouraged by the failures of the past. We owe it to our children to pass along an even better country than we inherited from our parents and we will not do so as long as Aboriginal Peoples continue to be left behind.
The Premier shuffled the cabinet this afternoon – the focus is to strengthen the team to combat a sagging manufacturing sector.
Michael Bryant becomes Minister of Economic Development & remains Gov’t house leader
Sandra Pupatello becomes Minister of International Trade & Investment (new focus on Investment)
Brad Duguid becomes Aboriginal Affairs Minister (from Labour)
Peter Fonseca becomes Labour Minister (from Tourism)
Monique Smith becomes Tourism Minister (from Revenue)
Revenue Ministry is merged with Finance (Duncan)
Moving Bryant to an economic portfolio strengthens the Economic team on the Premier’s front bench. Minister Bryant and Minister Pupatello will work together to attract new investments in the Manufacturing industry specifically but also in new high tech jobs and there will likely be a focus on Green jobs going forward.
I’ll be watching to see the performance of Minister Duguid. He is relatively unknown in the Aboriginal Community and the community is facing fatigue. There were high expectations from Minister Bryant but the resources were not available to address the numerous challenges. Minister Duguid is also the second Minister appointed to this ministry from a Toronto riding.
This afternoon at a press conference at the Bright Pearl restaurant, it was announced that Christine Innes will be the Federal Liberal Candidate for Trinity Spadina in this upcoming election.
Many of you may know Christine as Tony Ianno's wife, community advocate, lawyer, and mother.
I could not urge you more to come out and support Christine! The camapign office is now open at 206 Beverly Street, just south of College (the Polish Combatants Hall).
