Perhaps a point of departure for the committee to debate this motion might be that if there are objections to the targets the NDP has put forward—specifically, 25% of 1990 levels by the year 2020, which is important, and a long-term target of 80% of 1990 levels by 2050—then I would be curious to know what other targets they're proposing. Do they want to seek an amendment to this or to perhaps make some other change? If there's another target, as a percentage of 1990 levels, that people seek to have, upon what evidence do the other members of the committee wish to base that target?
We very specifically looked to particularly the long-term target and said that this is what the science has been telling us about an overall two-degree warming, with us being perhaps beyond the tipping point once we go beyond two or three degrees. Particularly, the European Union has done extensive work, as has the UN. There is a doubling effect that happens, almost a multiplier effect. As the changes increase, it becomes more and more difficult to try to rein in overall temperature increases on the planet. This two-degree increase has been picked by Prime Minister Blair and others who are seriously fighting climate change, and this 80% target is directly linked to that two-degree rise.
I know the parliamentary secretary has some opinions. If committee members choose to deny this particular amendment's veracity, then what evidence are they using to suggest some other solution for Canada's particular problem that we're in right now?