Strong Leadership on the Environment

December 05, 2021

 

This week at the United Nations climate change conference in Bali, Canada’s Conservative Government will once again take a strong leadership role in calling for a truly global agreement that compels all of the world’s major emitters to do their part to overcome the challenge of climate change.

This kind of strong leadership starts at home. That’s why the Conservative Government is implementing a plan to reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.

As part of this plan, the Conservative Government will implement mandatory emissions targets on industry, raise the fuel efficiency standards on cars and light trucks, and improve energy efficiency standards for products ranging from commercial appliances to light bulbs.

A proud, confident Canada is now taking this leadership to the world stage because the Conservative Government recognizes that, without similar action from the world’s largest emitters, any global agreement on climate change is meaningless.  This was the approach we saw from the failed agreements of the past.  Turning a blind eye to major developing-world emitters might make for good politics, but when it comes to actually reducing global emissions, this kind of approach is certain to fail.

The Liberal Party is no stranger to past failures.  For 13 years the Liberals refused to act on climate change and allowed greenhouse gas emissions to rise nearly 33% above their own committed targets.

Stéphane Dion was Environment Minister during much of this time. His failures prove that he cannot set priorities and that he is unable to back up his rhetoric with real action or real results.

Canadians expect more than just empty talk from politicians.  They expect real results.  While Stéphane Dion spends all of his time trying to take credit for his imaginary successes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is committed to replacing Liberal talk with real action, whether on the global stage or here at home.