We Signed On So We Have To Step Up
The Conservative government here in Canada has retreated from Canada’s commitment to attempt to reach the environmental goals of the Kyoto Accord. Yes you read that correctly. Apparently our government has decided that since we will be unable to fully meet the goals, that we should completely abandon the attempt and try something else completely with a goal that is 38 years further down the road.
Ok, first off, we the people of Canada have to start pushing those wusses in Ottawa to stand up to the corporate lobbyists. The global warming issue is far greater than the economic problems of the corporations. Second, if the economic problems are that severe, then maybe it is time to introduce major tax incentives to the corporations to clean up their acts. A good example to follow would be the latest initiatives of the Manitoba NDP government which announced that it would provide a $2000 rebate to consumers who purchase Hybrid vehicles. If the Federal government would provide incentives to consumers and corporations to make green changes. By legislating green changes, the economy itself will have to change. Sure we may lose jobs in some sectors, but other jobs will be created in the new green technologies sector.
Just because we will not be able to make the changes in time for 2012 as set out by the Kyoto protocol, does not mean we should not try to attempt to reach those goals. If we do something now, we may be a little late, but its better to get things under control 5 years late, than to get there 35 years late, at which point it may very well be too late.
The Climate Change Conference in Kenya has become a place for partisan Canadian politics with Rona Ambrose accusing the previous Liberal administration of inaction on the Kyoto initiatives that they agreed to. Well Ms. Ambrose, maybe instead of toeing the party line set out by Stephen Harper, this could be a chance for the Conservative Party to show some guts and attempt to meet Canada’s commitment and actually show up the Liberal Opposition by saying "You left us in a real mess, but at least we are trying to make it work."
I am glad to see that the Federal NDP party is working with the Conservative party to rewrite the Clean Air Act. Hopefully they will actually be able to push through some legislation with some real teeth.
Global warming is a GLOBAL problem, and the only way to deal with a problem on that scale is to do our part. I am trying to do my part at home by using low wattage light bulbs and energy efficient appliances like an LCD television and computer monitor. I only use lights in the room I am using. I lower the thermostat in my apartment when I am not going to be there. Instead of turning up the thermostat when the apartment is cold, I put on a sweater. By doing these things I have noticed the my energy use has dropped by about 15% on my hydro and gas bill over the last year. I use mass transit to get to and from work. I’ve reduced my global footprint, and I haven’t even been inconvenienced. I am a bit of a creature of comfort, and if I can do it anybody can. So you MPs in Ottawa put the political bullshit aside and do the will of the majority of the people in this country and start doing something about our country’s global footprint. WE THE PEOPLE OF CANADA HAVE HAD ENOUGH! AND SO HAS THE REST OF THE WORLD! GET IT DONE!