Conservative cuts undermine international climate change talks

OTTAWA – While the Conservative Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq attends international discussions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, Conservative cuts to a scientific network that monitored the impact of these pollutants are undermining efforts to fight climate change.

“The minister jets around to conferences to talk about the impact of short-lived climate pollutants on Arctic sea ice melt, but the Conservatives shut down monitoring of these pollutants and refuse to provide any real support for alternative, non-polluting energy sources”, said NDP critic for Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic).

Short-Lived Climate Pollutants are the most significant contributors to the global greenhouse effect after CO2. These pollutants have a warming influence on climate and contribute to dangerous climate change in the North. Last year the Conservatives drastically cut back on monitoring of these pollutants, drawing scathing criticism from scientists in high-profile U.S. universities and NASA.

“The Conservatives are trying desperately to “green” themselves, while killing the world-class Canadian science that is fundamental to addressing the problem,” said NDP Environment critic Megan Leslie. “The minister isn’t fooling anyone, least of all our international partners.”