Canada's Environment Minister Jim Prentice has defended the nation's role at the climate change conference in Poland last week, saying they were a very constructive force in working towards an international protocol” and a “respected player internationally.”

Criticizers called Canada a leading "spoiler" at the most recent global negotiations to work out the successor to the emission-limiting Kyoto Protocol.  This was the last preparatory conference in advance of COP 15, to be held in Copenhagen in late 2009.

Canada and its allies including Japan, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the US are part of the 'Umbrella Group'.  

The nation was criticized for not accepting 25% - 40% emission cuts of 1990 levels set at the Bali Conference at the end of last year.  It will instead aim to slash emissions by just 20% by 2020 of 2006 levels.

South African Environment Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk said, "Japan, Russia, Australia and Canada have avoided putting their numbers on the table for too long.  They now need to come forward with credible and ambitious mid-term targets within the 25 to 40 per cent range for 2020."

Brice Lalonde, head of the French delegation and head of the European Union's delegation, also chastened Canada for refusing to accept the agreed-upon targets.  

"We will speak to Canada on this subject," said Mr. Lalonde.

Quebec aligned itself closer with Europe with Minister of Sustainable Development Line Beauchamp saying, "We wish that the minimum target be 20 per cent reductions by 2020, from a base of 1990.  We will follow very closely negotiations over the next year, particularly those within the European Union, to examine the possibility that even more ambitious targets be adopted."

Environmentalist Graham Saul said, "I think Canada is seen as a spoiler role in the negotiations.  They've been blocking progress in a number key areas and have been called out for it.  In our opinion there is a real disconnect between where Canadians are at on these issues and what the government is doing at this conference.  I think a lot of Canadians would be would be deeply ashamed to learn about the role Canada is playing."

Canadians would be appalled to know what their government was doing, said Saul.

"Now that the United States is no longer seen as a drag on the process, Canada is increasingly alone and distinguishing itself that much more," he said. "Now that they don't have the Bush administration to hide behind it is all that much more evident," said Saul.

Dale Marshall, a climate change policy analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation said, "Canada has been roundly criticized here on a number of fronts.  Arguably Canada was the worst actor of them all."

Prentice brushed away criticism and said his actions were guided by four principles. These, he said, were "balance," "the long term nature of what we're trying to do," the importance of the technology and "symmetry," essentially that all major emitters be included in the protocol.

"We're a respected player internationally and our views are sought out and respected as a constructive force," Prentice said. "Canada has been an important constructive player, and it's going to take leadership from Canada to land this in Copenhagen next year."  THE END.