Canada to seek climate deal with Obama
OTTAWA, CANADA - Canada will seek a North American climate-change deal with U.S. president-elect Barack Obama.
Officials say they have been waiting for the departure of George W. Bush to work with his successor on an integrated carbon market.
While states and provinces have been cobbling together a patchwork of approaches, federal officials say the time is ripe for a continent-wide solution.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon confirmed in an interview that the file will be an immediate priority.
He says there are plenty of similarities between Obama's climate position and the Canadian government's.
He says Environment Minister Jim Prentice will be working on the file over the coming weeks.
Obama has set the target of reducing greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020.
The Harper government's plan would cut emission three per cent below 1990s levels by that time.
Both targets fall well short of the Kyoto Accord, which is supported wholeheartedly by Europe and the developing world.
Related News
Brazilian electricity workers call for 72-hour strike
BRASILIA - Brazil's national electricity workers' collective (CNE) has called for a 72-hour strike to protest the privatization of state-run electric company Eletrobras and its subsidiaries.
The CNE, which gathers the electricity workers' confederation, federations, unions and associations, said the strike is to begin at Monday midnight (0300 GMT) and last through midnight Wednesday.
Workers are demanding the ouster of Eletrobras President Wilson Ferreira Jr., who they say is the leading promoter of the privatization move.
Some 24,000 workers are expected to take part in the strike. However, the CNE said it will not affect consumers by ensuring essential services.
#google#
Eletrobras accounts for 32 percent…
