Eco-groups, scientists and youth call for Canadian leadership at UN climate change talks in Poland

Halifax, December 1, 2008 - A press conference was held in Halifax today, coinciding with the first day of the 12-day United Nations Climate Change conference (COP14/MOP4) in Poznan, Poland. The press conference was an opportunity to release the background document on the Poznan conference and to officially launch in Nova Scotia the Global Climate Campaign. The Call to Action statement was presented along with policy recommendations for governments. Panelists urged the federal and provincial governments to show leadership and take action on climate change. Panelists included representatives of environmental organizations, a representative of the scientific community, and the youth community.  The panelists in attendance at the press conference were:

• Tamara Lorincz, Executive Director, Nova Scotia Environmental Network
• Dr. Randall Martin, B.S. (Cornell), M. Sc.(Oxford), M.S. PhD (Harvard) Atmospheric Scientist, Dalhousie University - Dr. Martin’s research involves satellite remote sensing and global modeling to examine the composition of the atmosphere.
• Cheryl Ratchford, Energy Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre
• Gretchen Fitzgerald, Director Sierra Club of Canada-Atlantic Chapter
• Sam Littlefair-Wallace, Student & Member, Genuine Progress Index Atlantic-Youth

Please click on each name to view that panelist's statement.

For background information, please visit:

Global Climate Campaign: http://www.globalclimatecampaign.org/

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): http://unfccc.int/2860.php

The 14th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the 4th meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol are expected to draw around 9000 participants, including government delegates from the 185 Parties to the UNFCCC and representatives from business and industry. The two-week meeting is the halfway mark in the negotiations on an ambitious and effective international climate change deal to be clinched in Copenhagen in 2009.