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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015
HUMBERETC.COM
VOLUME 52, ISSUE 11
Trudeau to world leaders on climate: ‘Canada is back’ OPINION
OPINION
Jeremy Appel
Jelani Grant
For the next two weeks, leaders from 150 nations are meeting in Paris to spell out a plan for reducing carbon emissions. The meeting itself demonstrates a laudable acknowledgement of the impending climate catastrophe that will come about if we don’t change our consumption patterns, but not much else. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought a delegation of 380 people to the conference – including Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna, Conservative Environment and Climate Change critic Ed Fast and all 13 premiers. The optics of a massive Canadian delegation, combined with Trudeau’s obnoxious assertion that “Canada is back” on the global scene, provide style for a climate policy that lacks substance. The prime minister has repeatedly refused to commit to a coherent plan involving concrete emission reduction targets. Instead, he promised to reconvene the premiers within three months of the conference to discuss some sort of plan. Trudeau is by no means isolated in this regard. All hope that the Paris conference was more than just for show was dashed when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told the Financial Times last month that any agreement reached will be non-binding. The U.S. Congress, currently dominated by climate change denying Republicans, will never approve anything that disrupts the unrestrained capitalism they advocate. But what’s the point of an environmental agreement that kowtows to climate change deniers? Bill McKibbon, founder of the global climate campaign 350.org, expressed mixed emotions about the Paris talks in a Los Angeles Times op-ed. “The Paris climate conference represents a possible turning point in the fight between the fossil fuel industry and the rest of us,” he wrote.
Over 150 of the world’s leaders are meeting in Paris this week to discuss methods that could reduce greenhouse gases, more than a century after Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius declared that fossil fuel combustion could lead to global warming. As a part of the United Nations’ Conference on Climate Change, an official website dedicated solely to COP21 (21st Conference of the Parties) was created. The website provides a number of links to information regarding the conference, as well as insight on the issues as well as actions that can be taken to assist in the battle against climate change. However, most interesting to me was the 10 day-to-day habits recommended to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. After quickly reading the tips, I reflected on my daily energy use to determine how many of these could easily be achieved. It turns out that climate-friendly habits are not impossibly demanding, and can be accomplished by anyone, though they could require a number of uncomfortable adjustments for the average first-world citizen. The first tip suggested using energy-efficient appliances such as GE energy-saving light bulbs because of their ability to last eight times longer while using five times less energy. Some may find the cost unworthy of a purchase, while others may just have a low tolerance for the flickering. However, the biggest issue with these energy-efficient lights is the poisonous mercury that could be released into the home if the bulb breaks. Turning off appliances and light switches when not in use was another eco-friendly recommendation. The task of switching off electronics is quite easy, as many parts of the world already use limited electricity. Yet, the website proposes a reduction of Internet use as the servers emit almost 10kg of carbon dioxide per year.
Pushing for change without requiring action
See more of CHANGE on page 6.
Make a change, take a minute, conserve energy
REUTERS/STEPHANE MAHE
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends Conference of the Parties in Paris to discuss climate change.
Christine Tippett SENIOR REPORTER
Leaders from over 150 countries are in the City of Light this week hoping to create a concrete framework for a global response to climate change. The Conference of the Parties has been gathering every year since 1992 to negotiate a plan of action. This year’s meeting in Paris is the twenty-first installment. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touched down on Monday to join the motley crew of premiers, party leaders and cabinet ministers that make up Canada’s delegation. Trudeau asserted Canada’s renewed determination in the fight against global warming in his opening speech at the Paris climate conference. “Canada is back, we’re here to help build an agreement to make our children and grandchildren proud,” he said. “Our government is making climate change a top priority.” This in stark contrast with his predecessor Stephen Harper who brought little weight to the international meetings which are quickly becoming touted as the most im-
portant of our time. More than 40,000 people are expected to participate at the conference including government workers, lobbyists and representatives from business, industry and agriculture, as well as environmental groups. The conference is running for two weeks as representatives from over 190 countries discuss possible initiatives. According to the BBC, it’s taken a long time to reach an agreement because decisions must be made by consensus. Time is of the essence, however, as negotiators agreed in 2011 that a deal had to be reached by the end of 2015 and global temperatures are predicted to rise by four to six degrees Celsius if no action is taken. Further compounding the issue, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global warming of more than two degrees Celsius would have serious consequences. The conference concludes on Dec. 11, leaving just a week from now for a consensus to be reached. Trudeau said Canada will do its part to combat climate change by acting on these principles:
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Relying on scientific evidence and advice Implementing policies to develop low-carbon economy, including carbon pricing Working with provincial and territorial leaders, city mayors and indigenous leaders to coordinate efforts Helping developing nations adapt to climate change challenges Approaching climate change as an opportunity rather than a challenge 1 degree Celsius rise in average temperature since 1850. 2 degrees Celsius is the agreed gateway to dangerous global warming 30 per cent rise in carbon dioxide levels since Industrial Revolution. Nine of 10 hottest years recorded have happened since 2000. WITH FILES FROM MALCOLM CAMPBELL.
See more of ENERGY on page 6.