WWF climate work in Canada and the USA

The United States is and remains the global driver of politics and economy. Since the current United States leadership at federal level is clearly unsympathetic, WWF is predominantly working within the country – with people who recognise the need for action.

And those are many – probably already the majority in the United States.

• California is pushing through strict laws on energy efficiency, CO₂ emission standards for cars, and other measures. Governor Schwarzenegger wants to put the State at the forefront of the fight against climate change.
  
  
• Senators McCain and Lieberman are pushing forward a national law to limit absolute greenhouse gas emissions.
  
  
• 9 States in the North East are designing their own emission trading system. There are also attempts to link this to EU emission trading.
  
  
• More than half of WWF’s Climate Savers companies are US-based. The horrific and catastrophic effects of Hurricane Katrina brought home to many people the fact that climate change is a bitter reality capable of taking and destroying lives.

Canada is the country that so far does worst in fulfilling its Kyoto obligations. Canada’s emissions have risen by 30% above 1990 levels (the Kyoto Protocol standard year for comparing emissions).
The country’s new Prime Minister, conservative Stephen Harper, appears vague on keeping Canda’s commitment to Kyoto.

Similarly, the current Environment Minister, Rona Ambrose, is less than lukewarm about Kyoto – in her previous job she was known as a professional lobbyist working hard for anti-Kyoto groups. Canadian NGOs including WWF are fighting to get the Canadian government’s commitment back on track.