{news} Fw: [usgp-dx] Canadian Greens: Biofuel bill won't solve climate crisis, might worsen food crisis (fwd)

[Tim McKee]

----- Original Message -----

From: "Scott McLarty"
To: natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org
Subject: [usgp-dx] Canadian Greens: Biofuel bill won't solve climate
crisis, might worsen food crisis (fwd)
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 18:12:08 +0000



Green Party of Canada
Media Release

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2008


Biofuel bill won’t solve climate crisis but may make food crisis
worse, say Greens


OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s biofuel bill is not
designed to address the climate crisis and it should be rejected by
Parliament, says the Green Party. The government has introduced
Bill C-33, which would make mandatory a minimum five percent
biofuel content in all fuels by 2010.

“This bill is little more than another Harper government handout to
the biofuel industry,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May.
“Already, support for biofuels, at $2.2 billion, is the most
expensive environment program in the 2008 budget. With increased
biofuel subsidization linked to rising food prices and world
hunger, the Green Party believes this legislation will perpetuate
the problem. It is critical that any legislation distinguish
between food crop-based biofuels and other types, like cellulosic
ethanol, fuel made from farm remnants and crops not grown directly
for food.”

Ms. May added that relying on ethanol produced from crops grown
directly for fuel is dangerous.

“It is clear that corn-based ethanol is contributing to the world
food crisis. We cannot allow people to go hungry for the sake of
filling gas tanks. Farmers must be paid a fair price to produce
food crops for eating, not for driving.”

The government is claiming that Bill C-33 will reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by four megatonnes per year, something the Green
Party says could be more easily accomplished by improving vehicle
fuel efficiency standards.

“On a life-cycle basis, corn ethanol results in only a marginal
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels,”
said Environment critic and Guelph by-election candidate Mike Nagy.
“Mr. Harper’s stated goal could be met and even surpassed by
adopting California ’s vehicle emissions standards and thereby
reducing tailpipe emissions by 30 percent over the next decade.
Instead, Mr. Harper has chosen to harmonize Canada with the Bush
Administration’s weak standards.”

Mr. Nagy said that if the Harper government was serious about
reducing vehicular greenhouse gas emissions and stopping climate
change, it would also implement a carbon tax and focus on fuel
efficiency, public transportation, reducing vehicle dependency and
expanding the low carbon economy.

“Touting biofuel as the ultimate solution to climate change is part
of Mr. Harper’s strategy to greenwash his government’s missing
climate plan. But Canadians will not be fooled into believing this
government is serious about climate change action when they see Mr.
Harper putting all his eggs in the biofuel basket. The Green Party
will continue to press for meaningful action on the climate file
from Mr. Harper.”

-30-


Contact:
Camille Labchuk
Press Secretary
613-562-4916 ext. 244
clabchuk at greenparty.ca





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Tim McKee, Manchester CT, Home-860-643-2282
Cell-860-778-1304
Tim McKee, is a National Commitee member of the Green Party of the United States and is a spokesperson for the Green Party of CT.
BLOG- http://thebiggreenpicture.blogspot.com 



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