KYOTOplus Campaign Launched Locally

Windsor, ON – The Citizens Environment Alliance (CEA), in conjunction with Climate Action Network Canada and other environmental non-government organizations, have launched www.kyotoplus.ca a campaign website where individuals can submit their support to a petition for governmental action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond the Kyoto Accord. The website contains information and background material on the campaign and provides an easy way for Canadians to show their support for strong and urgent action to reduce Canadian greenhouse gas emissions.

KYOTOplus will gather the pledges of citizens and politicians who want Canada to take a leadership role on global warming - both domestically and internationally. It calls on elected Canadian politicians to “work to ensure that Canada honours its Kyoto commitment and sets a national target of cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 per cent, relative to the 1990 level, by 2020.”

It is widely accepted that in order to prevent catastrophically dangerous climate change, the global average temperature increase above pre-industrial levels must be kept as far below 2 degrees Celsius as possible. This will require a 25 to 40 per cent reduction (from 1990 levels) of greenhouse gas emissions by the world’s developed countries by 2020.

“We need to honour our international environmental commitments and take a leadership role in setting and meeting national targets of greenhouse gas emission reductions that are scientifically valid,” stated Derek Coronado, Research and Policy Coordinator of the CEA.

The KYOTOplus campaign calls for action on Canada’s Kyoto commitment and support for crucial U.N. negotiations on a post-2012 global agreement that will conclude in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009. The KYOTOplus campaign will engage citizens, politicians and civic leaders in all provinces, territories, towns and cities to support the Kyoto process and put an end to global warming.

If you are interested in collecting signatures to help support KYOTOplus, simply download and print the petition, pass it around and return it to our office, 1950 Ottawa St. We'll make sure your contribution is added to our submission.

For further information, contact: Derek Coronado, Research and Policy Coordinator, (519) 973-1116 or (519) 255-1616