I actually witnessed Peter Kent’s lips say “Canadians are proud of the Tar Sands” and then corrected himself to say we Canadians call it the oil sands! This was followed by a question noting NASA’s report on the oil sands concluding in a statement “if the oil sands continue, it will be game over for the climate”. Mr. Kent continued to preach it’s sustainable practices in the oil industry (not sure? but? I think it’s the $1.4 billion dollars a year in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry?) and then avoided the question by focusing on the $1.2 billion dollars Fast-Start Financing Canada is comiting to help developing countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions (most of which are loans to developing countries under the same foreign aid money we have been contributing since forever)
Canada, like the US, Japan and Russia are also adamant about not signing a second commitment period for Kyoto even with the EU’s strong leadership and persuasive attempts. They want an agreement that includes all the worlds biggest emitters (ie china, brazil)– it’s fair to say they should be included in a climate agreement and Canada could/should lead that discussion– but we must first agree to a post 2012 Kyoto so that exact discussion is enabled.
It’s so important that we don’t have a gap and Kyoto (although not entirely successful yet contribution-al none-the-less) needs to secure a second commitment period so to continue the Global Business Plan to reduce Climate Change.
C. Figueres clearly states that the Business Plan is now on a triple bottom line model; mitigation, adaptation and poverty alleviation. Much discussion is towards reducing poverty by developing green renewable energy and resources- an immediate win/win situation.
If I ask Peter Kent the following question tomorrow
“Recognizing your current stance on Kyoto- if that exact notion is disabling the entire global progress- what would you need to see from your Canadian voters to encourage you to ratify a post 2012 Kyoto protocol, so to allow the multi-lateral negotiation process for climate change to continue?”
Would and could we answer his call before the end of the summit on the 9th of december????
Harper. Listen to your people. Not polluters.
WELL SAID !!!!!! SO TRUE !!!!! Thanks for keeping us updated on what’s happening …”Canada, like the US, Japan and Russia are also adamant about not signing a second commitment period for Kyoto even with the EU’s strong leadership and persuasive attempts. They want an agreement that includes all the worlds biggest emitters (ie china, brazil)– it’s fair to say they should be included in a climate agreement and Canada could/should lead that discussion– but we must first agree to a post 2012 Kyoto so that exact discussion is enabled.”