加拿大由於未遵守對抗全球暖化的承諾，於18日成了第一個因此遭到控告的國家。
加拿大地球之友向總理哈波（Stephen Harper）領軍的保守黨政府提出訴訟，指稱其採取的溫室氣體減量政策，未能有效達到加拿大在京都議定書中所應履行的目標。
這份由180個國家簽署的國際協議，加拿大也是其中之一，而此次全球首例的訴訟案，正是強調各國應徹底執行京都協議。
此項官司由多倫多聯邦法院審理，有可能會迫使加國政府提出新的計畫，將溫室氣體減排至低於1990年排放量6%的法定目標──目前，加國政府宣稱無法達成該目標。
羅藍德律師事務所（Paliare Roland Barristers）及環境正義（Ecojustice）組成的義務律師團18日向法院表示，加拿大政府違反了從2007年6月22日開始生效的聯邦法──《京都議定書實施法》（Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, or KPIA）。
「捍衛基本原則是此案的要旨，也就是政府必須對法律負責並遵循之」，環境正義的律師威爾金（Hugh Wilkins）表示，「政府不能選擇性地僅遵行部分法條。法律就是法律。」
根據KPIA，在法案生效後的60天內，以及在2013年前的每年5月31日之前，環境部長必須依時提出氣候變遷計畫，擬訂溫室氣體減排的具體方案，以確保加拿大履行京都協議的職責。
然而環境部長貝爾德（John Baird）卻未提出該計畫。此外KPIA規定，計畫提出後，內閣必須在2007年12月拍板定案相應的強制性規章，但內閣也未能達成。
控方律師帕萊爾（Chris Paliare）表示，「簡單的說，加拿大已經違反了法律，」「我們要求法院宣告，說明政府受到法律的約束，以及必須為國會的決議負責。」
簽署京都協議的38個工業國，各有其協議的溫室氣體減排目標，而加拿大是唯一表明不打算履行該目標的國家。
加拿大地球之友執行長奧立瓦斯奇（Beatrice Olivastri）指出，「正當其他工業國積極行動要減少溫室氣體排放、對抗氣候變遷時，我們的政府卻提供排放者未來幾十年的污染排放假期( pollution holidays )。」
奧立瓦斯奇表示，「加拿大政府違反了法律，身為加拿大公民的我們，在道德和法律上都必須採取行動，徹底執行氣候變遷的相關法律。」
Canada today became the first country ever to be brought to court for failing to comply with its legal commitments to combat global warming.
Friends of the Earth Canada is suing the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper for following a strategy to reduce greenhouse gases that fails to meet Canada's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol.
The lawsuit is the first in the world to seek enforcement of the protocol, an international treaty ratified by 180 countries, including Canada.
Heard in Federal Court in Toronto, the legal action could force the government to create a new plan to reduce Canada's greenhouse gases six percent below 1990 levels, a legally binding target the current government says the country cannot meet.
Pro-bono lawyers from Paliare Roland Barristers and Ecojustice told the court today that the government is in violation of the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, or KPIA, a federal law enacted on June 22, 2007.
"The case is about defending the fundamental principle that the government must be accountable and comply with the law," said Ecojustice lawyer Hugh Wilkins. "The government cannot pick and choose which laws to obey. The law is the law."
The KPIA requires that, "Within 60 days after this Act comes into force and not later than May 31 of every year thereafter until 2013, the Minister [of the Environment] shall prepare a Climate Change Plan" that describes measures to be taken to ensure that Canada meets its obligations under the protocol.
Environment Minister John Baird has not prepared such a plan.
Under the KPIA, the Cabinet was required to pass binding, final regulations in December 2007, but they have not.
"Put simply, Canada has failed to comply with the law," said lawyer Chris Paliare, who is arguing the case. "We are asking the court to declare that the government is bound by the law and must be held accountable to the will of Parliament."
Of the 38 industrialized nations with binding international targets under the Kyoto Protocol, Canada is the only country that has indicated that it does not intend to meet its obligations.
"While other industrialized countries actively work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, our government has offered pollution holidays for emitters for decades to come," said Beatrice Olivastri, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Canada.
"This government has broken the law," she said, "and, as Canadian citizens, we have both a moral and legal imperative to insist on enforcement of our own laws on climate action."
全文及圖片詳見：ENS
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
