The Hon. Rob Renner
#425 Legislature Building
10800 - 97 Avenue
Edmonton, AB
Canada T5K 2B6
Phone: (780) 427-2391
Fax: (780) 422-6259
Dear Mr. Renner,
Please support Canada’s
ratification of the Kyoto protocol. I do not feel you are acting in the best
interests 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 15 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: Environment minister Hon. John Baird John.Baird@ec.gc.ca,
fax: 613-952-1458