The climate crisis that humanity is facing has global causes and implications. Scientists agree that anthropogenic climate change is real and that if greenhouse gas are not efficiently reduced, all nations will face undesirable and dangerous consequences (IPCC, 2007). Ironically, the industrialized countries that have contributed the most to the problem are not those that will be the most vulnerable to climate change. Yet, they are the most reluctant to implement ambitious climate solutions. This is mainly why Canada has been highly criticized by the international community and environmentalists over the last few years. Despite its commitment to the Kyoto protocol, Canada will not meet it's greenhouse gas reduction targets and instead is waiting for United States to make the first steps (Rabe, 2008).
In an article published at the start of the Copenhagen UN conference, George Monbiot qualifies Canada's image as being to climate what Japan is to whaling (2009). Despite the scientific consensus based on more than 900 papers published between 1993 and 2003 and converging towards the same conclusion (Oreskes, 2004), Canada's greenhouse gas emissions are still rising (Environment Canada, 2009). In the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report (2007), it is stated that total greenhouse gas emissions are to stay below 350 ppm in order to avoid a dangerous global temperature increase of more than 4 degrees above pre-industrial levels, which could cause a feedback loop of climate catastrophes. In order to do so, the IPCC has asked industrialized countries to commit to a 6% reduction of Greenhouse gas below 1990 level between 2008 and 2012 through the Kyoto protocol which Canada has signed and ratified. Scientists also recommend that Greenhouse gas emissions be reduced by 40% below 1990 level by 2020.
The successive canadian governments of the last 20 years have not done enough to make sure that Kyoto's targets are met (Smith, 2008). The Harper government has cut important programs such as energuide (Bird, 2006) and investments in climate research, refuses to tax the polluters and keeps approving further developments of contradictories energy policies (Winfield, 2008). Now, Canada has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of 17% below 2005 level by 2020 (UNFCCC, 2010). This is far from a strong commitment that is required by industrialized countries. In 2005, Canada was the fifth largest greenhouse gas emitters per capita in the world (World Resources Institute, 2010). Its weak position has a negative impact on the international negotiations and tarnishes Canada's diplomatic image (Suzuki, 2009).
Even though the Federal government actions on climate change are criticized, some provincial initiatives are applauded has being part of the most progressive views in North America (Sierra Club of Canada, 2006). British Columbia is the first province that has installed a tax on carbon (Anonymus, 2008). Quebec, thanks to its hydroelectricity, is on his way to meet the Kyoto requirements and has committed to further reduction of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 (Quebec, 2008).
Canada still has a chance to make a difference, by investing in renewable energies (Rowlands, 2004). According to Mark Jaccard, professor at Simon Fraser University, “carbon taxes are the most effective means of achieving our environmental objective.” (2008) Canada should leave costly and ineffective solutions such as ethanol (Douglas, 2008) and nuclear power, and instead focus on reducing its population eco-footprint and energy consumption. New regulations of energy efficiency in houses, public buildings and cars are Canada's green future (Hyson & al., 2008).
Climate change is a global long term problem and the only solutions lie in global long-term approaches.
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