This is the first time Dr. Arthur Carty, as National Science Advisor to the PM, has spoken before a Parliamentary Committee, - 
the Science, Technology, Industry and Natural Resources Committee 
from 5 pm to about 5:45 pm today, Thursday, November 25, 2004.
(Privately transcribed from taped record of the proceedings)

Brad Trost, MP:  I just want a short answer.  Industry Canada on their web
site says, "Industry Canada will also facilitate the development of several
climate change technology road maps with the objectives of accelerating the
development of cost effective technologies for greenhouse gas mitigation in
multiple sectors.  They're going to do work on the greenhouse issue.  Now
here's my question.  Do you feel, as a scientist here, completely confident
that the climate science is solid enough for the Government of Canada to
spend billions of dollars on the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol? Why
or why not?

Carty: Well, that's a good question too.  I do believe that the evidence
that we're in a period of climate change is, you know, incontrovertible. I
think that there is no doubt that we're in a period of climate change.  I
don't know whether you have had the chance to read the Arctic Climate
Impact Assessment which was published just two weeks ago but, you know,
there are devastating impacts, devastating effects and observations on the
Arctic which are clearly clear show that that's a region of the globe which
we have to pay attention to.  You know the temperature change in the Arctic is said to be twice as large as it is in other parts of the world.  Ice is
melting.  The Tundra is softening. We're looking at potentially
catastrophic circumstances and major impacts on the life of the indigenous
people that live in the Arctic, so, I have been, my office has been
supporting the work than Canada is putting into the International Polar
Year which occurs in 07-08, I think, this is a major opportunity that
Canada has to participate in an international research program which can
combine the human elements with the science and engineering elements of the Arctic.  So, while I think there is still a debate over the reasons for all
that its happening.  And, you know, I think in terms of the debate, there's
probably 90% of scientists on one side and 10% on the other.  But this is a
debate about the mechanisms of change rather than the fact that it's
changing.

Trost:  I agree but there is a difference between natural change and
man-made change.  So, you're confident enough that we should spend the
billions of dollars in implementing this - the science is solid enough,
behind it, we should spend billions of dollars to reduce our emissions of
carbon dioxide, methanes and other greenhouse gases.

Carty (speaking with confidence and no hesitation): Yes, I'm convinced that
we need to do that.

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