Support the
The Hon. Rob Renner
#425 Legislative Building
10800 – 97 Avenue
Edmonton, Ab T5K2B6
Canada
Phone: (780) 427-2391
Fax: (780) 422-6259
Email: rob.renner@assembly.ab.ca
Dear Mr. Renner:
Please support Canada’s
ratification of the Kyoto protocol. I
do not feel you are acting in the best interest of Albertans. Two thirds of Albertans and 78% of Canadians
support ratification.
No environmental issue is
more pressing than global warming. It
threatens to affect all of us, our economy, our health and the health of our
wilderness ecosystems. The
international science is pretty clear: climate change due to increased
greenhouse gases is a serious threat.
I’ve heard your party tell
us how it is not economically prudent for Canada to sign on to the accord. I would argue the economic, environmental
and human health risks of not ratifying the accord are far more
serious. Unusual weather extremes,
rising ocean levels and increasing air pollution are but a few consequences of
global warming that will have profound economic, environmental and health
consequences for Albertans and all Canadians.
You have ignored the costs
of non-ratification. What of the
increased insurance claims from unusual weather events, the increased burden on
government to deal with drought conditions like the one we are currently
experiencing in most of Alberta, the increased health care costs of smog
related diseases? If ratification means
we must shoulder a short-term economic burden (and this remains quite unclear)
well, that is the price we must pay in order to protect our environment and our
health.
There is long-term
competitive advantage for Canada to take a leadership position on this issue by
ratifying this year. It will help drive
our economy towards a more sustainable future.
By reducing our dependence on fossil fuels we will also reduce other air
pollutants affecting our air-quality.
I believe it is in Canada
and Alberta’s best interest to ratify the Kyoto protocol – for us now and
especially for generations to come.
Reducing global warming will protect our health and the environment and
strengthen our economy. I urge you to
follow the lead of the fifteen European Union states that agreed to ratification
and support Canada’s ratification of Kyoto at the earliest possible date.
I look forward to your
response.
Sincerely,
cc: Premier Ed Stelmach
Email: premier@gov.ab.ca
Fax: (780) 427-1349
cc: Hon. John Baird
Email: JohnBaird@ec.gc.ca
Fax: (613) 952-1458