Getting it right in Copenhagen

Politicians and environmentalists alike were lowering expectations in the lead up to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference this week, but a few voices cut through the din.

Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, expects "...a list of targets from the industrialized countries, a list of commitments from the developing countries, and a list of financial contributions," according to the Reflections on Ethical Business blog.  In essence, such a deal would result in...
significantly lower reductions than the scientific community is calling for, particularly since Barack Obama is unlikely to commit the United States to more than the 20 per cent reduction that is being discussed in the U.S. senate.  If Obama commits to more than 20 per cent, he will lose hard-earned support at home and the legislation will not pass.

And while most would agree that something is better than nothing, considering the urgent need for action on climate change, contrast de Boer's hopeful analysis with David Suzuki's message to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on Friday: 
"I would prefer for the Copenhagen talks to fail rather than end up with another watered-down agreement."  We can't afford another Kyoto. If we can't get a good deal in Copenhagen, we'd be better off waiting until next year and getting it right."


As one of Canada's preeminent environmentalist voices, Suzuki's comments are all the more poignant considering that Canadian political brass has become a subversive and increasingly irrelevant voice on climate change. Dozens of developing nations walked out when the government took the microphone at the Thailand climate talks this October, illustrating Canada's increasing isolation on the world stage.