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KYOTOplus
For release: October 9, 2008

440 Federal Candidates and Four Opposition Leaders Commit in Writing to Stronger Measures on Climate Change

(Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa) - The KYOTOplus campaign, spearheaded by a coalition of Canada's leading environmental groups, released initial numbers today on which federal election candidates have committed in writing to taking effective action on climate change. The campaign's website allows voters to see where their local candidates stand.

“The results to date indicate a commitment on the part of candidates in the Liberal, Bloc Québécois, New Democrat and Green parties to address climate change in the next Parliament. Unfortunately, Conservative candidates registered their opposition to the KYOTOplus goals,” said Graham Saul, Executive Director of the Climate Action Network. In contrast, 440 candidates from the Green, New Democrat, Bloc and Liberal parties have signed the pledge so far. In April 2008, the four opposition leaders also signed the pledge.

Candidates from the five major parties were asked to pledge their support for:

• a just price on greenhouse gas pollution
  
  
• world-leading regulations and effective investments to cut greenhouse gas pollution from vehicles, buildings and other sectors
  
  
• strong measures in support of energy conservation and renewable energy, and
  
  
• urgent measures to minimize climate change impacts on people and ecosystems here and abroad.

“The Conservative candidates through their rejection of the KYOTOplus goals have demonstrated their willingness to condemn Canada to the social, economic and environmental catastrophe of climate change,” said Jean Langlois of Sierra Club Canada. On the other hand, “hundreds of candidates from the other four parties are willing to take a stand on climate change for the sake of our children and grandchildren,” said Dave Martin of Greenpeace Canada.

KYOTOplus is a Canadian public engagement campaign to support an immediate solution to the climate crisis. The campaign is calling for a 25 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020. The Harper government plan targets a reduction of less than 3 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

For up-to-date results, on where candidates stand on the KYOTOplus climate change pledge, go to www.kyotoplus.ca

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