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Quebec splits with Ottawa on climate change

Quebec is taking the final step in its break from Ottawa on climate change, unveiling an ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gases and blasting the federal government for inaction only a few weeks before a major international environmental conference.

Premier Jean Charest announced Monday that, by 2020, the province will reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels, a goal similar to the target the European Union has adopted.

The ambitious target-setting is the latest in a series of policy moves on the environment from the provinces, with Quebec and B.C. leading a surge ahead of the cautious position of the Harper government.

Mr. Charest warned that Canada will pay a heavy price if it fails to reduce greenhouse gases significantly, because Europe is set to enforce aggressive emission cuts and is threatening to impose duties on imports from countries that don't follow suit. He said Canada-Europe trade relations could be affected if no international consensus is reached at next month's United Nations conference in Copenhagen, which representatives of Quebec and other provinces will attend as part of the Canadian delegation.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/quebec-splits-with-ottawa-on-climate-change/article1374487/