April 2005
http://www.dieselnet.com/
Canada reaches GHG emission agreement with automakers
A voluntary agreement on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was signed
between the Canadian government and the automobile industry. Under
the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), automobile manufacturers
agreed to reduce total GHG emissions from new light-duty vehicles in
Canada by 5.3 megatons by 2010, relative to a "business-as-usual"
reference case projection of vehicle emissions in 2010. The MOU was
signed by the Ministry of Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian
Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, and the Association of
International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada.
The GHG emission impact of the agreement relative to today's emission
levels was not communicated by the government, with contradictory
figures being quoted in the media. According to the MOU, the
projected 2010 GHG emissions under the "business-as-usual" reference
case are 90.51 Mt (CO2 equivalent). Thus, the reduction relative to
the 2010 reference case is only 5.8%. Relative to today's emission
levels, the MOU allows for an increase of the total GHG emissions,
rather than reduction (due to the increased vehicle population).
According to calculations by Canadian environmental groups--David
Suzuki and Pembina Institute--the agreement allows emissions in 2010
to rise by 18% relative to 1990.
According to earlier reports by the Canadian media, a GHG emission
reduction target of 25% (on an average vehicle basis) was discussed
at the negotiation stage. But the automakers apparently feared that
making a percentage commitment could undermine their lawsuit in the
USA, which was launched to block the California's GHG emission
standards.
Light-duty vehicles were responsible for 10% of Canada's GHG
emissions in 2002. Under the Kyoto Protocol, Canada should reduce its
emissions to 6% below the 1990 level during 2008-12. The Canadian
automotive industry, most of which is located in Ontario, employs
directly about 60,000 people and accounts for 12% of Canada's
manufacturing gross domestic product.
Memorandum of Understanding:
http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/media/mous/2005/MOU20040405_e.pdf
Natural Resources Canada press release:
http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/media/newsreleases/2005/200522_e.htm
http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/media/newsreleases/2005/200522a_e.htm
David Suzuki press release:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Campaigns_and_Programs/Climate_Change/News
_Releases/newsclimatechange04050502.asp
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