Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday was the first anniversary of the coming into force of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. This is an agreement signed by Canada and some 150 other nations, and it calls for a five percent global reduction of greenhouse gases by the year 2012. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of two organizations here in the NWT, the Arctic Energy Alliance and Ecology North, for the initiatives they are taking in heightening awareness of effective greenhouse gas reduction and what we can do to make a difference.
Mr. Speaker, Canada is number four -- and that would be fourth worst -- on the list of 32 OECD countries for our generation of carbon dioxide. Canadians have the dubious distinction of producing 16.7 tons of CO2 per capita. We, in the North, are particularly energy dependent, and with increasing diamond production and the prospect of pipeline development, we will be even more energy hungry. So, Mr. Speaker, what are we doing here in the NWT about finding alternatives to fossil fuels? What is our government doing to develop our vast hydro potential? What is our government doing to ensure that communities on the pipeline route are going to be able to replace dirty diesel with cleaner burning natural gas for their energy needs?
Mr. Speaker, the 1980s and '90s were the warmest decades on record; 1998 so far the warmest year. From the University of Manitoba comes a startling find that the polar ice cap is disappearing at the rate of 74,000 square kilometres a year, an area the size of Lake Superior. It's too late to reverse the trend, Mr. Speaker, but many, many people believe, and I am one of them, that at least it can be slowed.
Part of the solution is individual responsibility, and action, and certainly, Mr. Speaker, a big part of it is how government can show leadership and take concrete action as our government has when it joined others this December in signing a declaration on climate change. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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