Canada's Environment Minister defends against intense criticism of her country's decision to back out of the Kyoto Accord, but hints at future commitments if a new international consensus emerges.
"[Canadian Environment Minister Rona Ambrose] has come under fire from the [Liberal] opposition, environmental groups, [and] even former U.S. vice-president Al Gore following the leak of the Canadian position on the future of Kyoto, which says Canada wants the agreement scrapped in favour of a separate, voluntary deal.
The document, which also says Canada will not support attempts to set deeper emission-reduction targets for Kyoto's second phase starting in 2012, sets out a series of instructions to a Canadian contingent currently negotiating in Bonn. Canada is chairing those talks.
Yesterday, Ms. Ambrose said Canada is willing to make a new series of obligations, but may not necessarily do it within the Kyoto accord. Kyoto includes 163 countries, but only Canada and 34 others have taken out targets for the first phase."
FULL STORY: Kyoto backslide sparks furor

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Guts EV Tax Credits
The bill eliminates federal subsidies for electric vehicle buyers and charging stations.

DC to Launch E-Bike Delivery Pilot
The District will fund low-cost e-bikes and provide charging and battery swap stations for delivery workers to encourage e-bikes as an alternative to driving for food deliveries.

NYC Congestion Pricing: Still Working
10 million fewer vehicles entered the congestion pricing zone in the first six months of the program than last year, while pedestrian fatalities are at ‘historic lows.’
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