Dennis Bueckert
Canadian Press
Thursday, November 17, 2005

OTTAWA (CP) - In a seismic shift for the business community, some of Canada's most influential corporate leaders have issued a call for stronger action to fight climate change beyond the Kyoto protocol.

In a letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin obtained by The Canadian Press, the heads of such companies as Alcan, Shell Canada, Bombardier, Power Corp. and Business Depot, come out solidly in support of the controversial climate treaty.

And they urge that Canada's climate-change plan extend beyond the 2008-2012 time frame of the Kyoto protocol.

"As corporate leaders representing a broad cross-section of the Canadian economy, we believe that all governments, corporations, consumers and citizens have responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol," says the letter.

"The world must act urgently to stabilize the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and minimize the global impacts of climate change."

The corporate leaders say a strong response is required to the strengthening evidence in the scientific assessments of the UN International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"We accept the IPCC consensus that climate change raises the risk of severe consequences for human health and security and the environment. We note that Canada is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change."

The comments could hardly signal a sharper contrast to the criticism and skepticism that have characterized business comment on the Kyoto treaty from the time that former prime minister Jean Chretien first announced Canadian ratification in 1997.

At the time, Thomas d'Aquino, president of the Business Council on National Issues, described Chretien's commitment as "unrealistic and void of any meaningful economic impact analysis."

Similar comments have continued to flow from many business groups, the Alberta government and the Conservative party, which continues to oppose the treaty.

In their letter to Martin, the CEOs say their companies are already working to reduce greenhouse emissions and to minimize the adverse impact of climate change, but need policy certainty to guide action for post-2012.

"We need a strategy now for the next 50 years, with short and medium-term targets to guide us. Governments must set clear markers along the way to unleash competitive market forces and allow the discovery of a long-term value for carbon emission reductions.

"Only then will we secure the deep reductions needed to prevent human interference with the climate system."

The letter is signed by the following CEOs: Travis Engen, Alcan; Bob Elton, BC Hydro; Laurent Beaudoin, Bombardier; Russel Horner, Catalyst Paper; Alban D'Amours, Desjardins Group; Doug Muzyka, E.I. Dupont Canada; Derek Pannell, Falconbridge; John R. Wells, Interface Americas; Brian Foody, Iogen; Jack Cogen, Natsource Asset Management; Andre Desmarais, Power Corp.; Clive Mather, Shell Canada; Frank Dottori, Tembec; George Cooke, Dominion of Canada General Insurance; Greg Hanson, Wawanesa Mutual Insurance.

The UK Government launched its new strategy for sustainable development, Securing The Future, in conjunction with a Strategic Framework on 7 March, 2005. To order a hard copy visit The Stationery Office website.

The Strategy takes account of developments since the 1999 Strategy, both domestically and internationally; the changed structure of government in the UK with devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; greater emphasis on delivery at regional level and the new relationship between government and local authorities.

It takes account of new policies since 1999, and it highlights the renewed international push for sustainable development from the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. The lead Department, Defra, chairs a Programme Board to oversee delivery of the Strategy, but all UK Departments share responsibility for making sustainable development a reality.

Securing the future - complete document (PDF, 9079kb)
Prime Minister's Foreword and Contents (PDF, 1588kb)
Executive Summary (PDF, 1466kb) - view summary in other languages
Chapter 1: A New Strategy (PDF, 435kb)
Chapter 2: Helping People Make Better Choices (PDF, 588kb)
Chapter 3: "OnePlanet Economy": Sustainable Consumption and Production (PDF, 400kb)
Chapter 4: Confronting the greatest threat: Climate Change and Energy (PDF, 845kb)
Chapter 5: A Future Without Regrets: Protecting Our Natural Resources and Enhancing the Environment (PDF, 1103kb)
Chapter 6: From Local to Global: Creating Sustainable Communities and a Fairer World (PDF, 1452kb)
Chapter 7: Ensuring it Happens (PDF, 425kb)
Annex A (PDF, 76kb)
Glossary (PDF, 185kb)
Regulatory Impact Assesment (PDF, 105kb)
Order this publication
Devolved Administrations
The Devolved Administrations are producing their own strategies.

Scotland
The Scottish Executive's vision, priorities and indicators for sustainable development were set out in 'Meeting the Needs' in April 2002, since when progress reports have been published annually. A Scottish sustainable development strategy will be developed, working closely with key stakeholders, during 2005.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/17108/7365

Wales
The National Assembly has a legal duty to develop a Scheme setting out how they will promote sustainable development in exercising all their functions. Their first two Schemes were launched in November 2000 and March 2004. Their programme for putting the new Scheme into effect is set out in their 'Sustainable Development Action Plan', published in October 2004.

http://www.wales.gov.uk/themessustainabledev/index.htm

Northern Ireland
The Administration is aiming to launch our own sustainable development strategy and supporting indicator set in 2005.

SOUTH AFRICA: September 29, 2005

But the Asian colossus is also seen leading the way in the use of "green" energies as alternatives to fossil fuels, the head of a leading environmental watchdog said on Wednesday.
"China is already big in renewables. In 5 years time we see them as a world leader in this department," Chistopher Flavin, president of the US-based Worldwatch Institute, told Reuters on the sidelines of an energy conference in Johannesburg.

"Already, 35 million homes in China get their hot water from solar collectors. That is more than the rest of the world combined," he said.

Renewable energy is derived from sources that are continually replaced, unlike fossil fuels of which there is a finite supply. Most renewables are non-polluting. "There are prospects for real take-offs in solar and wind power in China, and not just hot water for homes but in industry," said Flavin.

"State-owned industries and private companies there are investing heavily in renewables," he said.

Sky-high world oil prices have partly been attributed to surging demand from China and the country's overall record on the environment has many greens seeing red.

But Flavin said the rapid growth in oil imports and related costs was making China look for alternatives.

He also said the country was grappling with mounting health and social costs from pollution as well as an energy crisis that has seen rolling black outs.

Flavin earlier told the conference that renewable energy was rapidly growing on a global scale, albeit from a low base compared to fossil fuels.

He said that wind power had an annual average growth rate of about 30 percent from 1994 to 2004, while solar energy had seen yearly growth of close to 25 percent over the same period.

He also said that the costs from such energy sources were falling fast, noting that wind power in 1980 cost 46 cents a kilowatt hour but now cost less than 6 cents.

But he said that much of the oil industry was missing the boat and the message it was sending was that: "Real energy men don't do renewable energy."


Story by Ed Stoddard

Thank you for your e­mail proposing solutions to address climate change.

On April 13, the Government of Canada released Moving Forward on Climate Change: A Plan for Honouring our Kyoto Commitment. Building on the initiatives introduced in Budget 2005, this Plan will mobilize all Canadians in a national effort to address climate change, while supporting economic competitiveness and facilitating Canada’s transformation towards a low­carbon economy in the long­run. A copy of the Plan is available at www.climatechange.gc.ca.

The Plan includes actions to increase the efficiency of our buildings and industry. For example, an allocation of $225 million over the next five years for the EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive will quadruple the number of homes retrofitted under this successful program. This new federal level of effort will support energy efficiency improvements in a total of 500,000 homes by 2010.

The Plan includes a further acceleration of the capital cost allowance (CCA) rate, from 30 percent to 50 percent, for certain high-efficiency cogeneration equipment and the full range of renewable energy generation equipment included in Class 43.1 (wind turbines, small hydro facilities, active solar heating equipment, photovoltaics and geothermal energy equipment). As well, it is proposed that Class 43.1 be extended to include distribution assets of district energy systems such as pipelines, pumps and meters where the heat energy has been produced using cogeneration equipment that qualifies for Class 43.1 treatment. It is also proposed that accelerated CCA also be extended to include certain equipment used to produce biogas (largely methane) from the anaerobic digestion of farm manure, where the biogas is used to generate electricity.

Encouraging the widespread use of equipment that produces energy efficiently or from renewable sources will continue to be an important part of Canada’s environment and climate change strategy.

With respect to encouraging purchases of fuel­efficient vehicles through taxation incentives, the Government of Canada believes that such a program is worthy of serious study. A “feebate” would provide a consumer rebate for fuel­efficient automobiles, and impose a fee on models that are not efficient. The Government has, therefore, asked the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (an independent advisory body) to develop options for a feebate, to consult, and to make recommendations to the Government for the next federal Budget.

I am pleased to convey that, in April of this year, the Government of Canada and the Canadian automobile industry signed an agreement on climate change action. Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the auto industry has agreed to voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions from light­duty vehicles in Canada (cars, minivans, SUVs and pick­up trucks) by 5.3 megatonnes as of 2010, through advances in vehicle technology.

The MOU represents a strong commitment on the part of the automobile industry to work with the Government of Canada, and all Canadians, toward our economic and environmental goals. It also builds upon a long tradition of co­operation between the Government of Canada and the auto industry in improving vehicle safety and addressing emissions issues. Indeed, while the MOU is expected to accelerate the introduction of more climate­friendly technologies in future, I am encouraged by recent announcements from auto manufacturers to expand their offerings of more fuel­efficient and gas/electric hybrid versions of some of their cars and light trucks.

I appreciate your support for the ongoing work to meet Canada’s Kyoto commitments.

Yours sincerely,

Original signed by:

Stéphane Dion

ATLANTA, Ga., Aug. 17, 2005 - When employees are allowed to work from
home, they reward their employers with hours of extra work time. That's
one of the findings from a survey of participants in The Clean Air
Campaign's Telework Leadership Initiative, the largest telework pilot
program ever undertaken in metro Atlanta.

"The findings from this survey really dispel the myth that telework is
only a benefit to employees, and buck the trend of decreasing workplace
flexibility reported by the U.S. Department of Labor in July," stated
Ellen Macht, executive director of The Clean Air Campaign. "Each
employer reported significant benefits, including increased
productivity, improved morale and even savings on office space."

The Telework Leadership Initiative was launched in late 2003, with
employers selected through an application process. Each employer worked
closely with The Clean Air Campaign and national telework consultant
Elham Shirazi to plan, implement and evaluate a six-month pilot program,
which were implemented over the course of 2004 and into 2005. Through
July, 2005, the Telework Leadership Initiative spurred the addition of
almost 1,800 new teleworkers. Surveys of participating teleworkers and
their managers demonstrate the program's success:

* Almost 90% of teleworkers reported improved morale due to
teleworking. Eighty percent of telemanagers agreed that staff morale
improved.

* Teleworkers save an average of 107.3 minutes each day they
telework by not commuting, and most often spend this time doing more
work (70.25%), spending more time with their families (46.56%) and
catching up on household chores (34.16%).

* More than 85% of managers reported that productivity improved or
stayed the same; among those who reported improvement, they estimated an
increase of 20%.

* All TLI participants plan to expand their programs, with each
manager, on average, adding four more teleworkers.

* At current teleworking levels, these teleworkers will reduce 9.4
million vehicle miles from metro Atlanta roads each year.

"The Telework Leadership Initiative is by far the most successful
telework pilot program that I have seen in the U.S. today," stated Elham
Shirazi. "Much of the success is due to two things: providing a
one-stop-shop approach for the creation of the programs, as well as the
fact that there are better technology tools available -- for less money
-- today."

Thirteen metro Atlanta employers participated in the program: Atlanta
Regional Commission, Biolab, Inc., Children's Healthcare of Atlanta,
Drew Eckl & Farnham, LLP, GE Energy, The Georgia Conservancy, Georgia
Power, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Georgia Department of
Corrections, Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Technology
Authority, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, and Quintiles.

In return for their commitment, the participants received up to $20,000
worth of resources to start or expand a program: up to $10,000 in direct
consulting services and a unique incentive of up to $10,000 in
reimbursement for staff time devoted to program development and
implementation.

"The Telework Leadership Initiative provides valuable lessons on how
teleworking can become more widespread," continued Macht. "This is a
model for making teleworking a reality at almost any type of employer,
anywhere."

http://www.cleanaircampaign.com/index.php/cac/about_us/for_the_press/cur
rent_releases/most_expensive_place_to_commute_becoming_best_place_to_tel
ework