Saskatchewan’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution On The Rise

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Saskatchewan’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution On The Rise

Saskatoon, April 21, 2010 -- New data just submitted by the Government of Canada to the United Nations shows that greenhouse gas pollution in Saskatchewan is getting worse. Peter Prebble, Director of Energy and Water Policy with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society drew attention to the new data this morning, pointing out that while greenhouse gas pollution levels here deteriorated, there were small improvements in six Canadian provinces. The newly released data is contained in the April 2010 Canadian Government Submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and is for the calendar year 2008.

The Government of Saskatchewan has established 2006 as its baseline year for greenhouse gas emissions and has committed to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from that year – to be achieved by 2020. However, Prebble noted “there is so far no indication of any progress towards the provincial target.” Rather, the new emission data shows that in 2008 province-wide greenhouse gas pollutants had increased above both 2006 and 2007 levels, going up from 71.3 million tonnes in 2006 to 75.0 million tonnes in 2008. Saskatchewan’s per capita emissions rose from 71.9 tonnes per person in 2006 to 73.8 tonnes per person in 2008. Saskatchewan now accounts for 10.3% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Data comparing Saskatchewan’s emissions with those of other provinces accompanies this news release.

“To put Saskatchewan’s per capita pollution numbers in perspective, they are the highest in Canada, are more than three times the Canadian average, are more than seven times the European average, and are more than twelve times the world average. At a time when the international scientific community is recommending deep greenhouse gas reductions to protect the future of all life on our planet, the Saskatchewan government has so far failed to implement any serious action. This is in sharp contrast to jurisdictions like Ontario, Quebec and B.C. where major investments aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions are being made” Prebble said

“The Saskatchewan Environmental Society believes Saskatchewan has an ethical obligation to join with other jurisdictions in acting decisively to reduce human produced greenhouse gas emissions before irreparable damage is done to life on our planet. The scientific data gathered by climate scientists over the past few years indicates that climate change is accelerating. Saskatchewan can no longer ignore its international obligations to act.” Prebble said.
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For more information contact:

Peter Prebble, Director, Energy & Water Policy, Saskatchewan Environmental Society, 306-665-1915 or 306-665-0085.

Background information below.


Recent Examples Of How Climate Change Is Accelerating

1) Annual rates of sea level rise are going up quicker than ever, as land based glaciers and ice shelves melt. The average rate of sea level rise is now 3.4 mm per year. 200 million people in the world live less than one metre below sea level. Thousands of people are already being forced to move from inhabited islands in West Bengal, India as their homes disappear beneath the ocean.

2) Average annual summer Arctic sea ice is shrinking much faster than expected, declining by more two million square kilometers in just four years.

3. Severe weather events are rising sharply. As the atmosphere warms and is able to hold more water, the intensity of storm systems is on the increase. The most common results are severe flooding, loss of property, injury and loss of life, especially among women and children. More than 140 million people per year are now impacted by flood disasters worldwide.


Saskatchewan’s Per Capita Greenhouse Gas Pollution Levels
Compared To Other Provinces

Saskatchewan 73.8 tonnes per person
Alberta 68.1 tonnes per person
New Brunswick 24.0 tonnes per person
Nova Scotia 22.3 tonnes per person
Yukon, NWT & Nunavut 20.0 tonnes per person
Newfoundland & Labrador 19.9 tonnes per person
Manitoba 18.1 tonnes per person
British Columbia 14.8 tonnes per person
Ontario 14.7 tonnes per person
PEI 14.1 tonnes per person
Quebec 10.6 tonnes per person

Source: National Inventory Report: The Canadian Government’s Submission
To the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1990-2008, Part 3, April 2010.
Compilation of this table has been done by the Saskatchewan Environmental Society
using data on pages 51, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 77, 81, 86, 91 and 95 of Part 3 of the report.