Canada's premiers failed to agree on a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases, but will move forward on a number of other less divisive initiatives, they said Friday.
The premiers held a news conference in Moncton, N.B. Friday to wrap up their annual conference.
"I've clearly said throughout this conference that a cap-and-trade system is difficult for all provinces to bring forward, but there are areas where we have achieved common ground," said New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham.
"Canadians can be sure today the work we have undertaken will have a very positive impact on the environment."
The premiers announced at the conference that they have made progress on biofuel development, studying the use of agriculture and tree-planting to reduce carbon, and a national climate registry to track emissions in a regulated way.
But the cap-and-trade system, which was considered a major goal by some premiers going into the conference, didn't happen.
"Is there a cap and trade system here? No,'" said Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, one of the proponents of such an initiative.
"Is there a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by all provinces? Yes. Would we prefer a cap and trade system? Speaking on behalf of Manitoba, yes.''
Under a cap-and-trade system, participants set a percentage-based emissions cap that they must meet together. If one of them produces emissions below the cap, it may sell its "excess'' emissions to another participant that produces more than the cap allows.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest said Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba were all ready to enter into a cap-and-trade system but not everyone agreed. Alberta was considered to be the main opponent.
The national registry, Charest said, is a good step towards such a system, and premiers will look at the issue again next year at the Quebec City premiers' conference.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said progress had been made in some areas, but fell short in others.
"I think it's fair to say on behalf of Ontarians that we didn't move the ball as far down the field as we would have liked. We would have liked a shared plan, we have individual plans, but we would have liked a strong shared plan to address industrial greenhouse gas emissions. We were unable to do that at this time."
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach had warned on Thursday that he was not going to change his cautious approach.
Noting Alberta was the first to take action on greenhouse gas emissions, Stelmach said premiers should move towards California's tough tailpipe emission standards.
"But we're doing what's best for us. We've already, in the short period of time, removed enough carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that's equivalent to about 1.7 million cars on Alberta roads," he told CTV's Canada AM on Friday.
"We've had over 500,000 new Albertans move to the province within the last six years. They all demand energy, they drive and they all live in homes that have to be heated."
Alberta is the largest producer of greenhouse gases in Canada, thanks in large measure to fever-pitch development of the oil sands.
Stelmach earlier defended the province's climate action plan, which relies on intensity-based targets rather than hard caps on emissions. An intensity system is based on using energy more efficiently without necessarily reducing actual greenhouse gas emissions.
Stelmach added his province will begin monitoring and creating an offset trading system in January.
Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams has defended Stelmach, saying Alberta needs to be given time and space to balance the demands of industry and the environment.
Earlier Friday, McGuinty said Canada as a whole must be willing to make changes.
"We can't shelter the oil and gas sector in Canada or North America from the realities of climate change and global warming," he said.
"They are a significant contributor to the challenge we all face, so they will have to play a significant role in being part of the solution."
With files from The Canadian Press
