Climate change 'worst threat we are facing this century': Stephane Dion
Sing it, Stephane! It's such a relief finally to have people in government who get it and are willing (and able!) to say so in public
Climate change 'worst threat we are facing this century': Stephane Dion
MANILA, Philippines – (Canadian) Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion says climate change is the “worst threat we are facing this century,” and warned that current emissions-reduction targets from major emitters don’t go far enough.
It’s a marked departure from the stance of the previous Conservative government, which had alternated between whether the Islamic State or Russia were the greatest threats to Canada and the world.
The question of how to deal with climate change took centre stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit here on Wednesday, which has brought together leaders from 21 countries on both sides of the Pacific. The Syrian refugee crisis and Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal were also discussed.
The previous Conservative government had often been torn over which constituted the greater threat: the Islamic State or Russian aggression. But Dion, who met with reporters alongside International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland on the sidelines of the APEC summit Wednesday, said it was climate change.
But Dion, whose mandate as foreign minister is heavily focused on climate change, and who as Liberal leader between 2006 and 2008 made tackling climate change a priority, said current commitments by major emitters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient.
= new reply since forum marked as read
