On December 7th 2009, 20,000 people from around the world, including leaders of 180 countries, will descend upon Copenhagen. The purpose of the gathering is a coming together to draw up a new plan to strengthen and reinforce the Kyoto protocol. What is agreed upon at this climate change summit will be put into action in January of 2013.
In affect, what the conference is about is industrialized nations telling lesser-industrialized nations that they should not make the same mistakes we made and continue to make, even though there is a huge amount of money to be made in neglecting the climate, income industrialized nations have enjoyed for decades.
Let’s back track a little bit to the year 1997 – the signing of Kyoto, which was considered at the time a successful summit.
The agreement:
37 of the world’s richest countries would cut their emissions by 5.2 percent by 2012
How did we do?
But how is Canada showing up in Copenhagen?? Well, we’re showing up rolling our eyes with a why bother attitude.
Why bother??
If we do nothing, scientists predict the earth’s temperature will rise by 6C by the end of the century. This translates to catastrophic conditions including: extreme weather, sea level rise, water shortages, food shortages and the extinction of up to a third of known plant and animal species.
"Canada is at a crossroads: We can seize this opportunity to work with leaders to move the global economy toward innovation, clean energy and wiser use of our energy resources or we can argue about who's to blame and remain tied to old, inefficient, and polluting industries," says Dale Marshall, climate policy analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation.
Stephen Harper is content to blame – he places blame on India and on China and other emerging industrialized nations. Hello?? Mr. Harper – have you ever even taken leadership training?? Are you listening?? Have you been to Wal-Mart lately to see what Canadians are buying?
Analysis has shown that it is possible to create a growing economy, experience an increase in quality of life and meet the targets required to slow and eventually stop climate change and this information has been provided to our Governments.
Friends – please make your voice heard in Copenhagen – there are a number of ways to do so:
In affect, what the conference is about is industrialized nations telling lesser-industrialized nations that they should not make the same mistakes we made and continue to make, even though there is a huge amount of money to be made in neglecting the climate, income industrialized nations have enjoyed for decades.
Let’s back track a little bit to the year 1997 – the signing of Kyoto, which was considered at the time a successful summit.
The agreement:
37 of the world’s richest countries would cut their emissions by 5.2 percent by 2012
How did we do?
- America bailed and increased their emissions by 20% - while only 5% of the world population, is responsible for 30% of the world emissions
- Canada is now one of the Top 10 polluters in the world
But how is Canada showing up in Copenhagen?? Well, we’re showing up rolling our eyes with a why bother attitude.
Why bother??
If we do nothing, scientists predict the earth’s temperature will rise by 6C by the end of the century. This translates to catastrophic conditions including: extreme weather, sea level rise, water shortages, food shortages and the extinction of up to a third of known plant and animal species.
"Canada is at a crossroads: We can seize this opportunity to work with leaders to move the global economy toward innovation, clean energy and wiser use of our energy resources or we can argue about who's to blame and remain tied to old, inefficient, and polluting industries," says Dale Marshall, climate policy analyst with the David Suzuki Foundation.
Analysis has shown that it is possible to create a growing economy, experience an increase in quality of life and meet the targets required to slow and eventually stop climate change and this information has been provided to our Governments.
Friends – please make your voice heard in Copenhagen – there are a number of ways to do so: