Canada prevents binding targets for commonwealth pollution reduction

Steven Harper ‘pleased’

Jeff Valdivia, Volunteer Staff

Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Steven Harper found himself in the middle of a climate change controversy at a summit of 53 commonwealth nations.

According to the Canadian Press, Harper nearly alone blocked binding targets on greenhouse gas emissions for developed nations. Harper refused to sign any agreement that did not impose restrictions on all developing countries, like India, which is a huge polluter. The United States used a similar tactic in 1997 to avoid signing on to the Kyoto Climate Change Protocol. Critics at the commonwealth meeting opposed to Canada’s position claim that Canada’s approach is a “recipe for doing nothing.”

At the end of the summit, Harper told a news conference that Kyoto was a mistake. Harper said, “We already did the ‘one-third of the countries will take binding targets and let’s hope the rest fall into line.’ We’re already there. That hasn’t worked.”

Considering Harper’s government dismissed Kyoto targets entirely, this isn’t saying much. If Canada, one of the wealthiest nations in the world, won’t even abide by the Kyoto accord, what sort of example is this setting for other nations?

Through Harper, Canada is sending a powerful message to the world that we will not be a leader in climate change mitigation policy. This stance surely must convey to other nations a sense that Canadians are both lazy and selfish. Harper makes it seem like Canadians expect the poorer nations of the world to take the same responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as Canada, despite that our country has been polluting for longer and to a greater extent than most developing nations.

Or, maybe, Harper doesn’t believe in climate change. If that’s the case, he might as well just give up science altogether.

According to its latest report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) claims that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal.” Also, there is at least a 90 per cent chance that greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have contributed to this warming.

The IPCC is the world’s most authoritative voice on climate change. It has issued four reports on climate change since 1990, which summarize peer-reviewed scientific research and literature. These reports are compiled by, and based upon the work of, thousands of scientists from over 130 countries.

There is no disputing the quality of the work done by the IPCC. In 2007, the IPCC and former vice-president Al Gore were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “their efforts to build up and disseminate knowledge about man-made climate change,” said the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Denying the science of climate change at this point seems like denying the science of televisions and microwaves. Given the enormous amount of scientific evidence, there is absolutely no reason why Canada should not be a leader in climate change mitigation policy.

Unfortunately, Steven Harper seems uninterested in climate change. This was made apparent when the goals agreed to by Canada in 1997 set out by the Kyoto Climate Change Protocol were dropped by his government.

As Canadian citizens, Harper’s actions should enrage us all. Not only is Harper doing nothing about an issue that will affect all Canadians but he is also condemning future Canadians as well. The IPPC warns that the warming of the atmosphere and oceans may continue for a century or more, even if mitigation policies are implemented immediately.

Although the consequences of climate change are largely unknown due to the complexity of the global environment, doing nothing to mitigate climate change is like playing Russian roulette. As a species, we have spent thousands of years adapting to very slow changes in the world’s climate. However, the climate change we face today will very likely involve sudden and unexpected changes to our environment. These changes will have disastrous consequences, particularly, but not exclusively, on the poorest nations of the world.

Climate change is no longer a debate. Action is needed now and this issue, among all others, deserves the highest priority. As a future grandfather, I do not want my grandchildren to see me and this generation of Canadians as people who encouraged, rather than prevented, the deadly consequences of climate change because we were too lazy and selfish to do anything about it.

To protect Canadians and future generations from the adverse affects of climate change, Steven Harper and all Canadians have a duty to ensure Canada’s leadership role in climate change prevention and policy.

Jeff Valdivia is a master’s student studying at the Natural Resources Institute. Jeff has an undergraduate degree in philosophy.