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| http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/12/12/pol-kent-kyoto-pullout.html |
What does this mean? Why did Canada do this? What's the Kyoto Protocol? What other agreements have come since? What will Canada do to reduce greenhouse emissions and address climate change? What has BC's response been? Look into some of these questions, or ones of your own on the topic, and leave a comment with the results of your inquiry.
You may also want to think about Justin Trudeau's response to Peter Kent's arrogance in parliament -- the govt's environment minister would not allow opposition MPs to attend Durban, and then mocks an opposition MP for not attending! Check out Justin's explanation of his choice of words. And see what others thought of the parliamentary exchange.
I honestly am not surprised that Canada backed out of the Kyoto Protocol. I remember hearing about how Canada wasn't living up to it, and how it was unpopular among the Canadian people. The way I see it is that without Government involvement greenhouse gas emissions won't be lowered in any significant way: companies will continue in their cheaper practices until someone makes them stop, and that someone is the Federal Government. If the Government were to truly step in and prevent unnecessary abuse to the atmospheric cycle then those mainly responsible for said abuse would have to pay attention and correct themselves. Of course all Canadians would heed the prevention as well, but everyday individuals don't cause nearly as much damage as high powered groups simply because of they are individuals and they don't have as much power over the way things are run. All we can do is minimize our own emissions as much as we can.
ReplyDeleteWhat Canadians need to do is push for Governmental attention and prove that we can be a environmentally forward nation.
While I think this is a poor choice on Canada's part, it makes sense on why they'd have to pull out of it. Canada would have to change so many of its fundamental economic programs should they abide by the accord, and I think the oil sands in Alberta would have to be shut down, cutting off a major source of income for the province. While the thought of Canada being the first nation to pull out of the accord might seem like a bad idea, Canada relies heavily on the industry in Ontario and the Oil sands in Alberta to generate profit. In B.C., I'm sure the hippies aren't happy we've pulled out either.
ReplyDeleteThis may have been a hard or easy choice for Canada to make depending on how they look at it. If you see that harvesting the oil (within the oil sands in Alberta) is what you need to be prosper, then it was a good choice to pull out of the kyoto protocol. Some may think of it as a bad descision to pull out of the kyoto protocol since we will be putting out more chemicals and polute the air and water around us. People may think of Canada in a different way since we pulled out of kyoto but we are all human and have a trait of greed sometimes...
ReplyDeleteThe Kyoto Protocol seemed to set targets for countries without any action plan. Also, I don't think that the Kyoto Protocol, or any other protocol for that matter, could be effective unless all countries join and sign off on the agreement. There are no borders when it comes to air pollution or other environmental issues, and even if Canada did adhere to the Kyoto Protocol, it would make little impact if all countries were not on board; especially the United States and China, being two heavily polluting countries. The choice Canada made does look bad and sets a bad example to other countries however, I don't think Canada's withdrawal from the protocol will improve or worsen the environmental issues that exist in Canada and in the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteI think that canada should not have continued to fake its way through the kyoto protocol. Through the history of the protocol, Canada failed to meet the requirements. The protocol continued to be an embarassment for Canada, so its better if we accept our failure and drop the promises altogether.
ReplyDeleteThe Kyoto Protocol shouldnt have been backed out of by Canada. I think it was a bad choice for Canada becuase, it makes Canada look bad and it sets a horrible example for countries who were either thinking of joining the protocol or are following it now. Other counrtries that are currently following the Protocol may consider the same choice that Canada made. Despite Canada's withdrawal from the Protocol, i believe it wont make a difference because we are simply continuing what we were doing before the protocol.
ReplyDeleteI believe that I should voice the negative side of Canada's withdrawl from the Kyoto Protocol. It is first and foremost bad news for the world's fight against climate change. Canada the "Strong North, Proud and Free." people around the world are likely looking at Canada and Canadians are as well; realizing that Canada is now fueled by corporate greed rather than ethical practice. Yes it saves Canada millions in fines. However if Canada had followed the protocol in the first place there would have been no fines.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Canada shouldn't have pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol. Yes even though that we haven't been meeting our targets, and it has cost us lots of money, it still shows that we were on board of trying to stop green house emissions. Canada in the first place should have been trying to get the corporations to emit less CO2. Without federal influence,the companies won't try to do anything to stop the emissions because all they care about is just money.Also pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol, it shows the rest of the world that we don't care if we pollute, and that we wont do anything about the companies that are polluting.
ReplyDeleteI think their should be more strick regulations with the kyoto protocol. Major polluters being able to buy big plots of forested land for carbon credits in other countries, like Canada, defeats the purpose. If polluters are producing chemicals and putting them into the air in their country neighboring countries will feel a more direct impact, not a country completely across the world. The polluting industries should have to reduce their emissions as well as make efforts to reduce their impact on a more provincial and national view.
ReplyDeleteI dont think canada should have pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol. It was a bad decision by the Canadian Goverment. But like what Nic said it has been an embarrassment for Canada because they have failed to meet the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol. I think that this the worlds fight for climate control has gone down to our pull out of this Protocol. This was the best way to know that countries will not realese the CFC into the atmosphere. It was was away to prevent a green way instead of just harming the nations atmosphere it was a bad move by Canada!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it should be much of a shock that Canada backed down. It's been publicized that Canda hasn't been doing much to adhere the the policies put forward in the protocol and i've heard that people didn't enjoy how the protocol affected their lives. My opinion is that with the government no longer being involved in reducing greenhouse gas emissions there is very little chance that they will be lowered in any significant way: Companies will further use cheaper practices until it is impossible to continue and/or the government forces them to alter what they are doing to the environment. If governmental administration took a stand against the disruption of the atmosphere that would put pressure on those contributing to this disruption to realize what they are doing and correct their practices.Regarless of all this everday Candadians would have to adhere to this policy as well,of course we have a much more insignificant effect on the atmosphere than large companies simply due to the fact that we have less control in how the things that create excessive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions are run. The most that regular Canadians can do is try to reduce their emissions as much as possible. What is necessary is for Canadians to put pressure on the government so that changes are made and we can prove to the global community that Canada can be a leader in environmentalism.
ReplyDeleteTurtleboii= Travis W
ReplyDelete(sorry, I ended up using my blogger account)