Late last night I talked about the climate crisis. I knew my PM was in Japan at that very moment, making excuses to rationalize inaction. I did not wake up disappointed:
PM blocks progress at summit, critics say
TOYAKO, JAPAN–Canada is being accused by humanitarian groups here of acting as a barrier to progress on such major issues as the world food shortage, climate change and aid to Africa.
Oxfam International, the charity and advocacy group, accused Stephen Harper's Conservative government of trying in the closed-door talks to weaken a
major effort by G8 leaders meeting here to step up support for health programs in Africa...
...On climate change, Harper continues to say here it is useless for G8 leaders to sign on to mandatory targets for reducing carbon emissions unless China, India and other emerging economies do likewise.
This position, shared by U.S. President George W. Bush, could have the effect of delaying co-ordinated international action to fight global warming because newly developed nations want the industrialized countries that created the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions to set an example in making sacrifices.
"Basically, Canada is not playing a constructive role," said Dennis Howlett of Make Poverty History.
"The only way we are going to get an agreement on climate change is if the industrialized countries who are responsible for most of the pollution take the lead."
In Ottawa, Liberal environment critic David McGuinty said Harper's "obstructionist approach to fighting climate change continues to embarrass Canada on the international stage."
Today, I'm very proud to be a Canadian.
RUSUTSU, Japan -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper conceded Tuesday that the surging price of oil influenced the Group of Eight to adopt a climate change
declaration that environmentalists have condemned as toothless.
In their much-anticipated declaration on climate change, the G8 leaders stopped short of committing to a long-term goal of halving global emissions by mid-century. Environmentalists immediately panned the statement as weak and vague.
But the prime minister said the agreement reflected a consensus among G8 leaders that any pronouncements on climate change had to be tempered by concerns about the struggling global economy and the energy security of developed countries.
"The increase in oil prices has affected this year's discussion," Mr. Harper said during a break in the G8 summit at the lakeside resort town of Toyako, on the northern island of Hokkaido.
"I think there's a recognition in a way there wasn't in past years of what Canada's been saying, that we cannot look at climate change and energy security and economic growth in isolation. They're all part of one package and we've got to have a solution that's viable for all three."
I like the last bit there: economic growth is part of the problem, you dumb shit!
That's enough climate change harping for one day. Here's something fun:
No comments:
Post a Comment