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Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Letters Editor, National Post
300 - 1450 Don Mills Road
Don Mills
Ontario, M3B 3R5Re: Air Act to be Nipped, Tucked, John Ivison, December 12
Dear Editor;
John Ivison paints a sobering picture of the sorry state of affairs resulting from Canada’s commitment to Kyoto.
It’s clear to almost everyone Canada can not meet the Kyoto commitment except through the unknown cost of buying emissions reduction credits on the developing international market. Still our politicians are engaged in mortal combat over the Clean Air Act and Kyoto while trying to second guess the meaning of polls suggesting confused Canadians want action on the environment.
There are options within Kyoto - not discussed even in impolitic circles - that could get Canada out of this mess. That is to withdraw. Article 27.3 of the Protocol allows for withdrawal from Kyoto, or alternatively and inclusively from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The time table for action is such that Canada could be out before Kyoto takes effect in 2008.
Of course there would be a massive outcry from consultants, emission credit traders and other countries expecting to make “megatonnes of money” from Kyoto initiatives such as the Clean Development Mechanism. That fuss would likely be minor compared to the long term recriminations we face if we continue to play the Kyoto charade game.
Perhaps it is time for Canada to admit a mistake in signing on to Kyoto and withdraw. We could then step back from the hysteria and consider climate change, and the possibility that humans might play a role in controlling it, seriously and soberly.
Yours truly,
Duane Pendergast