Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Letters Editor
Financial Post
300 - 1450 Don Mills Road
Don Mills, Ontario
Canada
M3B 3R5
Kyoto fading and nearly forgotten in Canada
Dear Editor:
Professor Joseph A. Doucet is right on with his assessment of Canada’s Kyoto plan published by the C. D. Howe Institute. (“Kyoto: Risks without payback”, 04/05/12, FP19) However his commentary seems more fitting to November of 2002, when the plan was issued, than to today. Perhaps the Institute is a bit ponderous with its thought processes.
These days, Canada’s Kyoto commitment is conspicuous by its absence from federal government pronouncements. The Kyoto word was barely mentioned in the Speech from the throne. The four hundred page federal budget does not use the word at all. Even the speeches of that staunchest supporter of Kyoto, Minister Anderson, now seem to avoid mentioning it.
It seems our federal government is quietly rethinking the way forward to management of greenhouse gas emissions. Hopefully Russia will not ratify the Protocol. Kyoto will fade away and be forgotten.
The climate change issue will not be forgotten so easily. Relief from the Kyoto schedule will allow Canada to develop the technology and policy Professor Doucet indicates is needed to provide real progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That could provide Canada with long-term gain, should a need for greenhouse gas management ultimately be demonstrated.
More timely commentary is available at www.computare.org. Computare is a small name think tank located in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Yours truly,
Duane Pendergast