Canada withdraws from Kyoto accord

[Osem]

Canada will formally withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, the minister of the environment has said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16151310

Peter Kent said the protocol "does not represent a way forward for Canada" and the country would face crippling fines for failing to meet its targets.

The move, which is legal and was expected, makes it the first nation to pull out of the global treaty.

At a time like this I think we may see other countries following suit.

We really are going to destroy ourselves in the pursuit of industry. The idea that short-term economic concerns outweigh long-term environmental concerns is utterly depressing.

[Osem]

When things get tough, people and nations start concentrating on the present and looking after 'number one' don't they.

[Ignitionnet]

Was getting a bit problematic for the Alberta oil sands industry.

http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/tarsands/

[Osem]

Quite.

Of course when one nation withdraws there's all the more pressure on others to do likewise as they perceive they're suffering the pain without the gain. It also serves to give those nations not signed up to such agreements even more reason/justification for not bothering.

[Taf]

Nothing would have changed unless India and China vastly cut their emmisions instead of building more and more coal powered power stations. It's all an exercise in futilty without that.

And tax-raising....

Originally Posted by Taf

Nothing would have changed unless India and China vastly cut their emmisions instead of building more and more coal powered power stations. It's all an exercise in futilty without that.

And tax-raising....

We can set an example though. It's harder to discourage developing nations with booming economies but it's even harder if we're not doing it either.

[Taf]

They need the power to fulfil the orders made by us in the west for goods that are now solely made there to profit from the low labour costs.

Originally Posted by Taf

They need the power to fulfil the orders made by us in the west for goods that are now solely made there to profit from the low labour costs.

All the more reason for the west to hold true to the agreement and encourage others to join later.

I think the carrot is a better way of getting agreement on these things then the stick and whilst everyone wants to be eco friendly few if any economy in the world is built on that and change is not something we human beings do very well.

[Osem]

The problem of India, China and Brazil is of course a huge one and them not being part of any such agreements makes it weven harder for national governments to 'sell' the green agenda to their people. I have very little hope that there'll be much progress made with regard to global agreement on tackling climate change and all it entails for future generations.