Canada Agrees To 2°C

The Government of Canada, on July 8th 2009, made a statement that "Canada recognizes the broad scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2°C".
This is a major step forward for Canada and prompted praise from Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute, a not-for-profit think tank focused on developing innovative sustainable energy solutions; "This is a welcome statement from Canada. The impacts of climate change beyond the 2°C threshold are projected to be catastrophic, especially for some of the world's poorest people. Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous. Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years.”
In a December 2008 study -Deep Reductions, Strong Growth An Economic Analysis Showing Canada can Prosper Economically While Doing its Share to Prevent Dangerous Climate Change by M.K. Jaccard and Associates - demonstrated that governments cannot argue that fighting climate change means job losses and declining standards of living, a position held by many governments including Ottawa.
The study, commissioned by the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation, found that the Canada's economy could grow by almost 2% per year over the next decade while the country reduces its greenhouse gas pollution to 25% below the 1990 level. This will help meet the 2020 target that is aligned with a 2°C degree limit (a 25% reduction in net emissions by 2020, relative to the 1990 level) while still adding over a million net new jobs from 2010 to 2020.
Meeting the 25% reduction target requires a significant price on carbon pollution as well as targeted regulations and investments to expand the use of clean technology. By 2020 Canadians will save more than $5.5 billion each year at the gas pump because of more efficient vehicles, more public transit and shorter commutes