Climate group says Brian Gallant's goals 'fundamentally incompatible'

The Climate Action Network says Premier Brian Gallant needs to come to terms with the incompatibility of hisgoals on climate change.

Climate Action Network executive director Louise Comeau says her group understands the premier is doing his best to make sure that "New Brunswickers thrive into the future," but she says they disagree"about the pathway to get there."

Premier Gallant was in Ottawa on Monday to meet with provincial and territorial leaders and the federal government ahead of December'sParis climate talks. Gallant said combating climate change is important, "not only because it's the right thing to do, but it's important for our economy."

Gallant went on to say that if the province is going to develop its natural resources and energy projects, it has to do so "in a sustainable way."

"We need to show domestically that we're doing what we can do to protect the environment and combat climate change," the premier said. "And we need to show that internationally,if we're ever going to export our energy projects and national resources."

However, Comeau says that's a contradiction that can't be easily reconciled.

"It's fundamentally incompatible. We will try to continue to encourage the premier to understand that climate protection and expanding oil sandsand building pipelines are incompatible," said Comeau.

"The science is clear on itand we can't pour more carbon pollution into the air than we currently do if we are going to keep people from excessive and dangerous global warming."

At Monday's meeting, the premiers seemedto agree there is an advantage to headingto the international climate talks with a united and common message, but Gallant stressedthat can be accomplished while still embracing differences within the country.

"That doesn't mean we have to have a common plan that goes from coast to coast to coast," said Gallant. "I think it means we have to have a common message that Canada is going to step up and play its role in combating climate change."