中国气候变化信息网 China Climate Change Info-Net

(2015-10-22)The newly-elected Canadian leader Justin Trudeau will arrive in office with a pledge to improve the country's battered environmental image, promising a new strategy for global climate negotiations in Paris this December.

The 43-year-old son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau swept to victory with 39.5 percent of the popular vote, in an election that saw the highest voter turnout since 1993.

Although he has yet to say how he will achieve his goals, the Liberal Party leader faces a tough task meeting expectations.

He has less than 40 days before the Paris climate conference begins, hardly time for yet-unnamed energy and environment ministers to get up to speed, let alone to forge a common position with Canada's 10 provinces on carbon emissions cuts.

Yet he has pledged a break from the policies of defeated prime minister Stephen Harper — a politician from Alberta's oil patch who pulled Canada out of the Kyoto treaty and fought to shield the energy industry from global commitments to cut carbon emissions.

During the election campaign, Mr Trudeau criticised Mr Harper relentlessly for turning Canada into a "pariah" on climate change issues.

He pledged to attend the Paris conference, and then convene the country's provincial premiers within 90 days to create national emissions targets under a framework that would allow provinces to set a price on carbon.

That party platform had almost no specifics but it raised expectations both domestically and abroad that Mr Trudeau would change Canada's course on climate.

US, UN hope Canada can do more

The White House said president Barack Obama looked forward to partnering with Mr Trudeau on the combating climate change.

A spokesman said with regard to commitments in Paris, "we believe that it's possible that there is more that Canada can do".

Former PM Harper had pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 but his plan gave few details on how to get there.

Critics said with Canada's rising emissions levels it had almost no chance of meeting that goal, and sources close to climate negotiations said the US and the European Union both told the Canadian government privately that Mr Harper's target was not ambitious enough.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, meanwhile, urged Canada's new leaders to help clinch a historic climate deal in Paris.

"Canada is a member of the Group of Seven and as a result, it has a particular role to play in terms of providing leadership on climate change issues," UN spokesman Farhan Haq said.

"The secretary-general hopes and expects that Canada will play that role."

'Stronger, smaller' cabinet flagged

The incoming prime minister has also announced his cabinet will include an equal number of men and women.

Outgoing prime minister Stephen Harper had 12 women in his last 38-member cabinet.

"I think there's certainly a clear desire by Canadians to see both a stronger and smaller cabinet than we have had in years past," Mr Trudeau said.

The new cabinet will be announced on November 4 — the same day Mr Trudeau officially becomes prime minister after a transition from the previous administration.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-21/canadian-leader-justin-trudeau-faces-climate-change-challenges/6872344