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CUPE National President Paul Moist called on Stephen Harper to finally get serious about climate change. Moist sent a letter to Harper urging him to respond now that US President Barack Obama has announced that his country will make deep emissions cuts to American coal plants, calling for a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the US coal sector. For years, Harper has stated his government will harmonize its climate change policy and mitigation efforts with the Americans.

Moist urged Harper’s Conservative government to “reduce greenhouse gases to ease the impacts of climate change, while promoting adaptation measures and a move to a green and sustainable economy.”

While the American plan is not the silver bullet for slowing climate change; it is being regarded optimistically as a possible signal that the US is poised to take a leadership role internationally.

Harper’s government has resisted taking meaningful steps to address climate change, while pursuing an aggressive oil and gas extraction agenda that is out of step with emissions reductions. Moist is encouraging Harper to bring Canada back from the environmental brink and work to reduce emissions, regulate the oil and gas industries, promote renewable energy, and seek public sector solutions to the climate crisis.