United Nations Climate Change Conference

Discussions on solutions to greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and climate change are heating up on the international level in anticipation of the December 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Representatives from international nations including Canada will be meeting to come up with a way to lower carbon emissions and deal with climate change.

“A fair deal would put the onus for reducing emissions on the developed nations (such as Canada and the U.S.) that are mainly responsible for the problem,” writes David Suzuki, in a November 2009 issue of Common Ground magazine.

Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels

The biggest differences between countries seem to be the idea that reduction levels should be the same for all countries. Most environmentalists would say that unfortunately this perspective reflects an unfair and unbalanced solution to climate change. Developed countries like Canada and the U.S. have been reaping the benefits of fossil fuel use to energize their affluent economies over the years, while contributing more then their fair share to the greenhouse gas looming crises. In contrast, countries like India and China have contributed less per capita to global greenhouse gas emissions and in many ways have been dealing with the garbage and waste from rich developed nations.

According to the Suzuki Foundation, developed nations need to reduce their emissions by at least 40% to reach a 350 parts per million level by 2020. Professor Bill Rees, of the UBC School of Regional and Community Planning, in his research has shown that four additional Earth-like planets would be needed to bring the present world population up to U.S. or Canadian material standards with prevailing technology. (As outlined in Our Ecological Footprint by Bill Rees, 1996.)

Government of Canada environmental position

“We have committed to reducing Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from 2006 levels by 2020 and also reducing by 60-70 percent by 2050,” reports Jim Prentice, Canada's Minister of the Environment, on his ministry website.

Canadians have little to be proud of with a present day prime minister and federal government who appear to create a divisive Canadian climate change position – by espousing a philosophy of: it’s either the economy or the environment. It’s a position that some might say has not yet been able to fully commit to “green economy solutions.”  Could it be that the present-day Canadian government climate change views are clouded by the tar sands, "fossil fuel fumes" and allegiance to Alberta oil gas interests, and therefore unable to see the forest beyond the Alberta oil wells?

United Nations climate change position

“Dealing decisively with climate change is key to ensuring sustainable development, poverty eradication and for safe-guarding economic growth. Science indicates that inaction will be more costly than acting now. Economic development needs to be moved into a low emissions and climate resilient path,” say UN climate conference organizers in a September 2009 report.

Citizen participation

Citizens around the world are being asked to contribute to solutions. Along with those daily, simple acts of turning out lights, reducing car idling, following the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle), lobbying for green jobs and eco-friendly buildings, comes a call to arms to contact government leaders to make one’s views known on this important issue. Email the Prime Minister at pm@pm.gc.ca  or Canada’s Environment Minister.