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By voting day this past election the KYOTOplus campaign had obtained commitments from over half of all Liberal/NDP/Bloc/Green candidates – 493 in all. The lead-up to Poznan, is a second opportunity for politicians to commit to action.
Ottawa (21 November 2008) - The UNFCCC Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland
is just around the corner (December 1-12, 2008), and KYOTOplus partner organizations are getting ready to spread the word and boost their signature counts on the Petition for Concerned Canadians.
Poznan represents a critical milestone on the path to a new global agreement to reduce greenhouse gases and slow climate change. Negotiators must be able to demonstrate good progress on finding common ground and show they have a plan of action to finish negotiations over the next year. Without that plan there is little chance of finding consensus in December, 2009 when the final agreement must be signed in Copenhagen, Denmark.
You can help so that together, with just a little work, we pressure the government to take a more positive role and position in Poznan than it did in Nairobi or Bali. At the same time we can give our current total signature count for Copenhagen of approximately 23,000 a hefty boost to 75,000 or even 100,000 by the end of the year!
1) On or around December 3rd send an e-alert to your supporters and networks explaining Poznan, and why it is important for the Copenhagen agreement and bringing down global GHG emissions. Ask them to sign the KYOTOplus Petition for Concerned Canadians and to "Send to 10 Friends". Next, ask them to write to the Prime Minister and their MP urging them to endorse the KYOTOplus Pledge for Canadian Politicians. You can include a link to the MP look-up tool and current list of MP endorsements on www.kyotoplus.ca.
2) Include the alert in all communications and events from today to December 12th.
3) Get involved in the 2008 Canadian Global Day of Action on Sunday, December 7th (note – the international Global Day of Action is Dec 6th).
Background Info
2008 Federal Election Update
What an election! Prime Minister Harper's September surprise turned into a good test for the KYOTOplus pledge and network. Both passed with flying colours! We showed what can be done when we work together for common purpose, reaching into every riding to pressure every candidate to sign on. By voting day we'd obtained commitments from over half of all Liberal/NDP/Bloc/Green candidates – 493 in all. What's more, we raised the profile of the KYOTOplus brand among the media and the general public, and reduced our workload by obtaining commitments from many newly elected MPs.
KYOTOplus Committed MPs by party in the 40th Parliament:
Bloc Q Party: Total Seats - 49, Elected MPs who have endorsed - 47, Elected MPs who have refused or did not respond - 2
Conservative Party: Total Seats - 143, Elected MPs who have endorsed - 0, Elected MPs who have refused or did not respond - 143
Liberal Party: Total Seats - 77, Elected MPs who have endorsed - 50, Elected MPs who have refused or did not respond - 26
New Democratic Party: Total Seats - 37, Elected MPs who have endorsed - 29, Elected MPS who have refused or did not respond - 8