Posted on 07/27/2006 10:27:52 PM PDT by AKSurprise
OTTAWA — A new report by the NAFTA environmental agency shows that the United States has been doing a better job than Canada in cutting toxic pollution – but the releases on both sides of the border remain large.
The report, Taking Stock, shows that close to three million tonnes of toxic chemicals were produced as waste by North American industry in 2003, with roughly one-quarter of that amount released directly to the air.
Almost 11 per cent of toxic chemicals released in 2003 were known or suspected carcinogens, while 8 per cent were known to cause developmental or reproductive harm.
U.S. manufacturing facilities cut their releases of toxics by 21 per cent between 1998 and 2003, while Canadian manufacturers cut releases by 10 per cent.
The annual report by the Commission for Environmental Co-operation is considered the most authoritative data source on pollution trends in North America, and has for a number of years shown Canada to be lagging its main trading partner in pollution control.
Across North America, total releases and transfers of toxic chemicals fell 8 per cent from 2002 to 2003.
Average air pollution releases per facility were about 20 per cent higher in Canada than the United States, possibly reflecting the fact that the United States has legally binding air-quality regulations under its Clean Air Act, while Canada has no equivalent legislation.
Europe Fails Kyoto Standards as Trading Scheme Helps Polluters
"At least 12 of the 25 EU nations are at risk of missing their Kyoto pledge, according to EU estimates. Among the 15 original EU members, 11 are unlikely to meet the pollution standards, including Germany, Italy and Spain, three of Europe's five largest economies."
"The program has had little effect on global warming. Temperatures may climb as much as 5.8 degrees Celsius (10.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in the next 100 years, according to the Web site of the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs."
" While the EU took the lead in pushing nations to set targets for cutting carbon dioxide, U.S. President George W. Bush withdrew from Kyoto in March 2001, saying the program was too costly. The U.S. has a trading system that reduced emissions by mandating reductions in pollution.
U.S. sulfur dioxide emissions per dollar of gross domestic product fell by 83 percent in the 21 years through 2001, largely because of the compulsory trading system, according to a 2004 study backed by the Center for Clean Air Policy in Washington. Sulfur dioxide is an element of so-called acid rain."
Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
"Founding partners Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United States have agreed to work together and with private sector partners to meet goals for energy security, national air pollution reduction, and climate change in ways that promote sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. The Partnership will focus on expanding investment and trade in cleaner energy technologies, goods and services in key market sectors. The Partners have approved eight public-private sector task forces covering: (1) cleaner use of fossil energy; (2) renewable energy and distributed generation; (3) power generation and transmission; (4) steel; (5) aluminum; (6) cement; (7) coal mining; and (8) buildings and appliances.
The six partner countries represent about half of the world's economy, population and energy use, and they produce about 65 per cent of the world’s coal, 48 per cent of the world’s steel, 35 per cent of world’s aluminum, and 61 percent of the world’s cement."
(Canada)Harper Goverment wants to join Asia-Pacific Partnership
"Ottawa appears to want to join the new Australian-inspired, U.S.-led group called the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, also known as the AP6 or, to its critics, Kyoto Lite.
The Harper government approached Washington about becoming a member of the AP6, the U.S. chief climate change negotiator acknowledged the other day. And the prime minister has been talking with his Australian counterpart John Howard, who has been on a three-day visit to Ottawa, reportedly trying to get Australia's backing as well.
At a press conference, Stephen Harper called the Asia-Pacific Partnership "the kind of initiative the world needs" and went on to say that effective climate policies must include the world's largest emitters, by which he was presumably referring to such AP6 nations as China, India, and the U.S. who are not facing Kyoto reduction targets."
Don't forget Toronto ships 100% of it's trash to Wayne County, Michigan as well.
which was a cute trick because the U.S. was never in it.
The US was involved in the drafting of the accord under the Bubba administration. However Bubba never even bothered to send it to congress because it would never have passed. Bush just admitted that Kyoto would never be able to pass through congress, and unsigned the US signature from the accord. Bush and congress both knew what a raw deal this would've been and as we can now see, it has done little to achieve the results it was designed to do. Europe and Canada both have no chance to come anywhere near their emission reduction targets.
bttt
bump
Not to mention what they ship to the Governor's Mansion....
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