Senator Tommy Banks charged that government had failed in one of its key aims in implementing Kyoto -- that of persuading every Canadian to reduce greenhouse emissions by the equivalent of one tonne (or 20 percent) per year.

The government had failed to provide sufficient incentives and had not explained the plan well enough to Canadians, said Banks, a member of the governing Liberal Party.

"So far," said Banks, "the 'one-tonne challenge' has failed to engage Canadians."

Canadians produce on average five tonnes of greenhouse emissions per year, so the 'one-tonne challenge' translated to a 20 percent cut. But Canadians didn't know how, or why to do it, Banks said.

"Not every Canadian understands that the emissions that we put into the air have weight and that these emissions are endangering thew world's climate in ways that will have devastating effects on the lives of our children and future generations," said Banks.

Banks was presenting a report by the Senate's standing committee on energy and the environment, which pointed out that 50 percent of Canadians' greenhouse gas emissions was from motor vehicles, 29 percent from space heating, 11 percent from water heating and 7.5 percent from household appliances.

The committee called on the government to carry out a better education programme and introduce fiscal incentives such as a five-year moratorium on sales taxes on the retail purchase of "all energy-saving and energy efficient consumer products, except motor-vehicles."

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