Cancun, Mexico – The Canadian Government, led by returning Environment Minister John Baird, has kicked off the UN climate talks in Cancun by winning an incredible first, second and third place Fossil of the Day awards! With three consecutive Colossal Fossil of the Year awards behind them, it seems this government is continuing its reckless approach to climate change in the hopes of setting even more fossil records. Canada won its first colossal fossil in Bali under the leadership of Minister Baird.
The Fossil of the Day is an award voted on and given by over 400 leading international organizations to the country which has done the most to disrupt or undermine the UN climate talks.
Canada has been awarded the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Fossil of the Day for the following reasons:
Canada wins third place for a spectacular year-long effort to regain its title of ‘colossal fossil’ as the country making the least constructive contribution to the negotiations.
“Last January, Canada backed off of a weak target to adopt an even weaker one, as part of the government’s plan to outsource climate policy to the United States. Canada’s plan to meet that target is, to put it nicely, still being written,” says Graham Saul of Climate Action Network Canada. “Furthermore, the person they’ve just put in charge as Environment Minister is John Baird; COP veterans might remember him as the solo hold-out against science-based targets for developed countries at the end of Bali.”
In second place, it’s Canada again. It’s already known that Canada doesn’t have a plan to cut emissions. What it does have is a plan to cut a lot of other things, such as:
- the only major federal support program for renewable energy;
- a program funding energy efficiency upgrades for homeowners;
- funding for Canada’s climate science foundation;
- climate change off of the G8 and G20 agendas when Canada played host this summer; and last but not least…
- clean fuels policies in other countries.
“Internal government documents released today reveal that Canada worked to ‘kill’ a US federal clean fuels policy to protect its tar sands, working with allies like the Bush administration and Exxon,” says Steven Guilbeault of Equiterre. “With friends like that, who needs clean energy?”
Now, to the reasons for Canada to be the first place winner as well:
Some might think the US Senate wasn’t too helpful on climate change. But Canada has a Senate that makes the US look good, and not just because these Senators aren’t elected.
“In Canada, Conservative Senators killed a progressive climate change bill without even bothering to debate it, leaving Canada without a science-based target or any domestic transparency program for the already weak 2020 target the government has brought to these talks,” says Patrick Bonin of AQLPA. “Only in Canada could you find such a fossil-worthy Senate.”
So Canada is starting off with a substantial lead, taking three prizes today. Killing progressive legislation, cancelling support for clean energy and failing to have any plan to meet its target – all position Canada well for another two weeks of ignominy here in Cancun, ” adds Bonin.
Despite getting off on the wrong foot, the Canadian Government can be reminded that there is still time! This is only day one of these negotiating sessions, still plenty of time to wipe the tar from their eyes and clean up their act!
Fossil of the Day is presented daily in Cancun from a network of over 400 leading international non-governmental organizations following a vote to determine which country had done the most over the course of the day to delay, stall, and otherwise disrupt these negotiating sessions in Cancun in December.
About Climate Action Network Canada
Climate Action Network Canada – Réseau action climat Canada (CAN Canada – RAC Canada) – is composed of member organizations committed to preventing dangerous levels of human interference with the global climate system, protecting environmental sustainability and public health, while upholding principles of just transition, equity and social justice. CAN Canada believes that to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Canada must make the transition to an economy primarily focused on the efficient use of renewable energy. Actions that Canada takes to meet its Kyoto Protocol obligations must lay the foundation for such a transition. For more information, visit www.climateactionnetwork.ca.
Source: Climate Action Network Canada Press Release dated November 29, 2010.
