Local governments are increasingly making efforts to reduce their environmental footprints, especially where it involves greenhouse gases.
Most have emission-reduction targets in place. So what does it say to those municipalities and individuals when the top level of government is backing away from plans to be part of the global climate change solution?
The Conservatives paid lip service to the problem when Environment Minister Peter Kent said Canada planned to “work toward a new international climate regime which will include all the major emitters.”
Rather than continuing in a leadership position in this critical time of international co-operation and broad acknowledgement of the effects of climate change, Canada is saying it doesn’t want to play ball unless the U.S. – by far the world’s largest polluter, although China is fast catching up – is on its team.
The U.S. has refused to join the Kyoto Protocol from Day 1 for wholly protectionist reasons. That the Conservatives are choosing a similar path – eyes sharply focused on the revenue-rich oil sands – shows more weakness than leadership.
The fact emerging superpower China assumed a leadership position at the recent international climate conference in Durban when Canada, No. 8 on the polluters list, so clearly distanced itself from one, clearly indicates we’re moving in the wrong direction.
The effects of climate change won’t get put on hold just because governments decide that for now, they must throw all their energies into economic recovery.
Sadly, this step backward in Canada’s efforts to be part of the solution could have the net effect of reducing the long-term economic prospects.
Ironically, the people making such decisions now likely won’t be around to witness the aftermath of their short-sighted choices.
– Victoria News
