Progres§ in Paris

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» PM Trudeau lays out ‘five principle’ plan on climate change at COP21

Aaron Guillen
Staff Reporter

Coe has taken centre
stage in the Paris climate
change talks. Along with his
fellow representing officials, PM
Trudeau announced last week his
country’s plan to combat climate
change with five main principles.
Firstly, Trudeau plans on
taking only the best evidence
and advice through scientific
research. Secondly, he promises
to “support and implement
policies that contribute to the

: development of a low carbon
: economy” which will incorporate
: carbon pricing.

Trudeau admitted that he

: doesn’t have all the answers, but
: that the Aboriginal people hold

: the key to a brighter tomorrow:

: “Third, and very importantly,

: we will work with our provinces,

: territories, cities, and indigenous
: leaders who are taking a

: leadership role on climate

: change. Indigenous peoples have
: known for thousands of years

: how to care for the planet and the :
: rest of us have a lot to learn and

: no time to waste.” Additionally,

: Trudeau noted that they aren’t

: alone, because the cities spread

: across our nation possess

: innovative leaders who want only
: the best for Canada, and have

: been working to combat climate

: change.

Fourthly, he vowed that

: Canada will aid developing

: countries to deal with the

: problems that climate change

: causes, including the vulnerable
: countries who receive the blunt of :

the consequences—for example,

: the Marshall Islands, with their

: rising sea levels.

Lastly, Canada aims to take

: the positive outlook on climate
: change and use it as a building
: block to growa thriving economy :
: rooted in “clean technology,

: green infrastructure, and green
: jobs.”

: Apart from the five principles :
: PM Trudeau is implementing :
: in Canada’s plan for a greener
: world, Microsoft co-founder

: Bill Gates staged an event

called Mission Innovation,

: “a group of 19 countries
: and 28 leading investors

Image via thecanadanews.ca

: that are pledging billions to

: boost new developments in

: clean technology,” explained
: Huffington Post.

Gates is integrating a group

: of private investors, with a
: commitment of $7 billion towards
: research and developments for

clean energy—likewise, Trudeau

: announced that Canada will
: budget $300 million annually into
: clean technology innovation.

“We will not sacrifice growth,

: we will create growth,” said
: Trudeau.

 

On all four wheels, begging for forgiveness

» Volkswagen Canada apologizes

Aaron Guillen
Staff Reoorter

fter the shocking reveal back

in September concerning the
controversial diesel emissions
scandal, Volkswagen is making
a conscious effort to find peace
with their Canadian customers.

Last week, VW purchased
full-page ads in more than 100
newspapers, in which they
expressed their sorrow and asked
their customers to look at a
website provided on the ad.

On the website, Maria
Stenstr6m, President and CEO
of Volkswagen Group Canada
Inc., apologized: “We are grateful
for the relationship of trust that
we have built over the years with
Canadians. I am committed
to working directly with our
Dealers, and the thousands of
Volkswagen enthusiasts across
Canada, to honour our strong
relationship going forward,” she
said in an open letter on the
home page.

Included on the website is
an emissions FAQ, in which one
question in particular stood out:

: What are you doing to regain my
: trust?

“We are working tirelessly

: to develop a remedy for affected

: vehicles. We hope our employees,
: dealers and customers see this

: advertising as an important

: step towards acknowledging the

: damage done to Volkswagen's

: relationship with Canadians and
: declaring our full commitment to
: restoring faith in our Brand”

Meanwhile, Canadians are

: expected to receive a form of
: compensation.

According to CBC:

: “Environment Canada is working
: with U.S. regulators to approve

: a fix for the cars, which have

: software installed that turns on

: emissions control when cars are

: undergoing testing, but turns it

: off during real-world driving.”

Until then, a nationwide

: recall is expected soon.

: Additionally, VW sales have

: taken a plunge of 5.5 per cent in
: Canada, even though collective
: vehicle sales have risen 4.7 per

: cent in the past month, pointed
> out CBC.

 

Image via Sean Gallup/Getty Images