Greenpeace UK has launched a campaign to get Canada to take action to tackle climate change or leave the Commonwealth of Nations.

“Based on their appalling record on climate change, we don't think Canada is fit to be part of the Commonwealth, because their recklessly spiralling greenhouse gas emissions threaten the survival of other member states,” Christian Hunt of Greenpeace said in an email to its followers.

Greenpeace said that Canada’s emissions rose 26.2% between 1990 and 2007, and that the Canadian government wishes to expand the Albertan tar sands.

“The Canadian government probably isn't top of your list of environmental villains. But maybe it should be,” Mr Hunt said in the email, on 27 November. “Ten days before Copenhagen, we should expect something more from one of the richest countries in the world.”