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Harper Agrees to climate change at G20
Prime Minister Harper yesterday conceded to discussing climate change on both the G8 and G20 summit agendas in two weeks time. Climate change was – from the beginning – set to be an item (albeit low priority) on the G8 agenda. It was marked as a secondary issue (behind maternal and child health, and alongside nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and piracy).
Posted by Zoë Caron
The G20 agenda, however, was a harder nut to crack. For the past few months, leaders from the European Union, Mexico and the United Nations called on Canada to put climate change on the table. And it worked! The Right Honourable Harper insists , though, that the G20 agenda must stick to an economic focus. I couldn’t agree more. What is still off kilter is that climate change has yet to be recognized by the Prime Minister as a deeply rooted economic issue.
One has to look only to the next G20 host, South Korea, to see a country-wide economic stimulus package that is 81 percent based on shifts to a green economy. Canada included some “greenery” in its stimulus measures too, totaling … 8 percent. China is also blowing Canada out of the water, with 36 percent of its economic stimulus going to green economy. And one only has to look to Europe to quickly find examples of countries who have reduced their emissions while in ways that continue to grow their GDP.
The good news: Economic opportunities are endless, and speaking of climate change is allowed at the G20.
The bad news: We have yet to see Canada take advantage of those opportunities in its greatest moment of international leadership.
WWF campaigners holding the posters saying The World Is Watching You, reminding key decision makers that the eyes of the World are turned to them. United Nations Climate Change Conference, Poznan, Poland, December 2008 (c) Slawek Jankowski ALEF / WWF International
2 Responses to Harper Agrees to climate change at G20
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It’s unfortunate that Harper does not see the positive effects the economy would have with a greening of industry. Instead of wanting to be a leader and innovator in new technology he is going to be dragging Canada last-in-line when other countries start moving toward greener technologies pulling Canada along kicking and screaming. I use to support Harper but, as can be seen from his reluctance to accept the science behind climate change, he does not do what is good for Canada in the long term and has lost my support.
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About this blog
At WWF-Canada, we're passionate about climate, water and people. Follow us for the latest from Panda HQ.
It’s high time we elect some Green Party members to Federal and Provincial seats so that we have some rational and smart input into Canadian economic and environmental affairs. The Green Party is not a one-note party. Pay attention and make critical, not emotional or loyalty-based judgements on their ideas. We need a change!
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