Posted on 16 November 2007
Ottawa, November 16, 2007 – Senator Nick Sibbeston called on the Senate of Canada to take a leadership role in combating climate change by adopting a policy of purchasing carbon offsets for all Senate travel. In a motion moved November 15, he asked that “carbon offsets that meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and also meet internationally recognized standards and certification processes” be included in the travel budgets for both individual Senators and Senate committees.
Most proposed measures to reduce greenhouse gases will take a long time to implement and even longer to have effect, Sibbeston said. “It is possible to do something now, however... The modest steps we take will immediately reduce the amount of greenhouse gases being put in the atmosphere.”
Senator Sibbeston argued that taking these steps now will raise the profile of the issue and increase Senator’s awareness of and sensitivity to climate issues. “Every time we travel we will be conscious of contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and what we are paying to offset that.” He noted that two provinces, British Columbia and Manitoba, and many municipalities have already adopted this policy. it is up to the Senate to show leadership at the Federal level.
The motion is still being debated in the Senate.