Environment Minister David Anderson pledged that all four options released yesterday allow Canada to meet its Kyoto obligations under the global treaty, but none of them are free of short-term economic pain.

"There will be costs -- costs that are direct and immediate," Anderson said. "But the greater costs are the costs of inaction on climate change. Science tells us we simply cannot afford the status quo. But there are benefits in taking climate change action."

Included among the four options is one which would put a cap on greenhouse gas emissions, forcing emitters to buy and sell credits, but would put much of the burden on Alberta and dramatically drive up gasoline and energy costs to consumers.

Another, which seems to be favoured by Ottawa, drew the most outrage from critics because it was predicated on Canada receiving "clean air credits" for its energy exports to the United States, a measure outside the accord signed by the government in 1997.

"The question is no longer should Canada act, it is very much a question of how Canada should act," Anderson said. Source.

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