Canada on the verge of overtaking the U.S.

As the most recalcitrant country at the climate debate. Who says the rest of the world doesn't care about Canadian politics?

The crisis over who will be in charge in Ottawa in the new year is making waves at the United Nations climate change conference in Poznan, Poland, with many delegates expressing hope that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be ousted, a Montreal observer said at the conference.

"I've had delegates from all over the world coming up to me and asking what is happening in Canada, and frankly, in the vast majority of cases, they are saying they wish the government would fall. The Harper government is not popular here," said Steven Guilbeault, a representative of Montreal-based Équiterre

...

And now with news that a coalition of Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc MPs might force a change in Canada's government in an expected non-confidence vote late next month, there is hope that Canada might soon become a help rather than a hindrance to progress on climate change, Guilbeault said.

...

Canada has been criticized for trying to propose new targets that would not even meet its own commitments under the Kyoto Protocol; for saying it should get a break because much of its emissions come from the tar sands projects; and for suggesting that Canada should be allowed weaker emissions reduction targets because Canadians will have to adjust their lifestyles in order to reduce emissions by, for example, using smaller cars or public transit.

Canada was also ridiculed for claiming it is almost 30 per cent above its Kyoto targets because of "national circumstances," including its cold climate and large size. The Climate Action Network noted that emissions targets are set relative to historical levels.

Just a little something for those wondering about what the world thinks about us under Harper. Yesterday the comedians had their say. Today U.N. delegates.Recommend this Post