Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said he remains hopeful that significant progress can be made on a binding international climate change agreement, even with Stephen Harper’s absence at an emergency meeting of world leaders in Copenhagen today.

“Should Copenhagen end in disappointment, Mr. Harper can not use failure as an excuse for further inaction. Other countries—the U.K, France, Australia, the U.S. and even China—are going to proceed with their plans regardless of the outcome here at Copenhagen, and Canada must do the same,” he said.

Shortly after arriving in Copenhagen this morning, U.S. President Barack Obama went into a special meeting with 19 other world leaders. Mr. Harper was excluded from that meeting.

“For decades, the world has looked to Canada as a broker on progressive matters of international importance – regardless of the party in power. Now we are no longer even at the table,” said Mr. Ignatieff.

“Mr. Harper came to Copenhagen with nothing productive to offer and no plan in hand. In fact, he is treating Copenhagen more like a trip to the dentist than the opportunity Canada’s clean energy potential represents.”

However important today’s leader meeting was, Canada must forge on with its own plan, Mr. Ignatieff added, signalling his willingness to work with the government to ensure Canada has a credible climate change plan in place.

“We cannot allow Canadian environmental policy to be entirely dependent on American politics.  We need an aggressive—made in Canada—climate change plan now.  And we’re willing to work with Mr. Harper on this if his government brings forward a serious plan that treats our provinces fairly and includes pollution reductions for all sectors.”