OTTAWA – Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands) says Minister McKenna’s recent announcement to set emissions-cutting plans is not enough and unacceptable given the climate crisis.

“This is a rejection of immediate action,” says Ms. May. “An aim for 2020 COP is essentially one of 2021. That’s much too late. The consequences are losing the 12 year window and shrinking it to 9 years. This is unacceptable. We are squandering the opportunity to show leadership and press other countries to raise their level of action in response to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent 1.5 report.”

“No aspect of the Paris agreement stops us from acting now. We should pull our Harper target as quickly as possible and replace it with one that puts us on a positive path to survival.”

Ms. May will be attending the 24th annual Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Katowice, Poland this week as a member of the Canadian government’s delegation.

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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Rod Leggett

Press Secretary

613-562-4916 x206

rod.leggett@greenparty.ca