PM wants feedback on climate treaty

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y .• Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined world leaders who rushed to put their signatures Friday to a global treaty on climate change in hope of bringing it into force. Now comes the hard part. Canada is nowhere near its target of reducing greenhouse- gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Emissions are still inching up. And a national plan is still being worked out. So the government wants your advice.

Trudeau used his appearance at the United Nations signing ceremony to promote a new website, www.canada.ca/climate-action, and a Twitter hashtag where the government is seeking suggestions from Canadians. “We’re looking for ideas on how to reduce emissions,” he said.

“On the best way to move forward with carbon. And (on) how we can best prepare for and, if possible, avoid the impacts of climate change. ... It’s important that all Canadians be part of this conversation.”

The UN agreement enters into force once it is ratified by 55 countries accounting for 55 per cent of global emissions, which is now expected to happen, given the resounding reaction Friday.

The event broke the record for the most first- day signatures for an agreement of its kind. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at least 175 countries signed on.

The broad goal of the agreement is to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 C from pre- industrial levels, to stave off the most catastrophic effects of rising sea levels.

Trudeau received a warm reception and was mobbed for photographs while walking between meetings. The president of Colombia joked that the prime minister is now the most popular leader in the Americas.

And Trudeau drew perhaps the most ovations of any leader who spoke to the assembly. One came when he described the particular challenge facing poorer countries: How to cut emissions when their economies are growing fastest?

“They shouldn’t be punished for a problem they didn’t create, nor should they be deprived the opportunities for clean growth that developed nations are now pursuing,” Trudeau said.

Developing- country delegations applauded again when he mentioned the $ 2.65 billion his government has budgeted f or international-assistance programs geared toward cleanenergy programs.

The Conservatives said Trudeau hasn’t been straight with Canadians, pointing to the parliamentary budget officer’s finding that hitting the climate- change target could shave up to three per cent off the national economy by 2030.

But Dave Sawyer of Enviro-Economics projects the country could get halfway to its targets — with emissions declining 15 per cent by 2030, after levelling off in a few years — if provincial governments respect their already announced plans.