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Harper touts Canada's work to protect environment
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Wed. May. 28 2008 8:17 PM ET
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in a speech at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Wednesday, praised Canada for going to great lengths to protect the environment.
The conference, in Bonn, Germany, is focused on the battle to protect species and their habitat around the world.
"As the heirs to this natural endowment, we understand that it is merely on loan, passed onto us from previous generations to safeguard for the generations yet to come,'' said Harper.
"Canada has gone to great lengths to protect and preserve our rich and diverse environment, and in our country this is not just a government enterprise. We are partnered with many private individuals, corporations and non-governmental organizations dedicated to environmental philanthropy."
Harper touted Canada's achievements in conserving more than 200,000 hectares of ecologically significant lands in Canada.
He also said Canada has protected three million hectares of ocean waters and 10 per cent of its land mass -- an area greater than the size of France and Germany combined.
"These large protected areas include famous national parks like Banff, Fundy, Gros Morne, and Nahanni, of which our government announced a significant expansion last summer," said Harper.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke at the conference and, like Harper, was presented with an award recognizing her nation's contribution to the protection of biodiversity.
Merkel told the conference she had promised US$788 million to combat deforestation between 2009-2012, with a further US788 million available every year thereafter.
Climate Change
Harper also used the forum to push Canada's strategy to combat climate change.
"We have vowed to get past the empty rhetoric and to take real action to require Canadian industry to make real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions," he said.
CTV's Roger Smith said Harper's talk about getting past the "empty rhetoric" appeared to be a shot at some of the European leaders is meeting with on his tour.
"The Europeans are really pressing Canada and the United States... to stick with the Kyoto process -- which requires developed countries to do more first to cut greenhouse gases," CTV's Roger Smith reported Wednesday from Bonn.
"Canada and the U.S. argue that it's meaningless to have any agreements unless big emitters like China and India are included."
The prime minister's trip, which kicked off in Paris on Tuesday, comes in advance of July's G8 Summit in Japan.
Environmental groups have been critical of Ottawa's decision to use 2006, not 1990, as the base year for emissions reduction.
Canada has also been criticized for failing to set absolute targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Next, Harper will visit Italy and then the U.K. -- where he'll meet with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Queen Elizabeth.
Harper's trip follows the recent resignation of Maxime Bernier as foreign affairs minister. All of the questions for Harper at Tuesday's press conference were about Bernier.
However, the prime minister did receive a warm welcome on Wednesday from President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.
"You are losing some weight!" remarked Barroso. "You look more elegant."
With a report from CTV's Roger Smith and files from The Canadian Press
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.
Comments are now closed for this story
Adrian (McGill University)
said
Mike Webster
said
Captialism is killing us
said
Here's my comment, I think this is dull that we aim for 2050 as we know that world pollution will destory 2 time more than current. If we control this now and saving earth. Sooner the better. If Harper and all G8 members are worried about their ecomony then they can stop out-of-control pollution right now and try cap later.
We can DO-SOMETHING now.
Nothing Harper say will help because he do not intend to stop this seriou issues - aka Alberta oil project is out of control and he are letting them gettting away even after they killed 500+ ducks in their polluted pond. FACT - Tarsand project is to be enlarge to size roughly same as state of Florida and that is size of chuck of wasteland going to be created in Alberta.
Don't believe their commericals showing them creating new trees afterward. That is pure nonsense because they only accounted for 10% of wasteland in centre and new beauty trees are just cover-up at front. STOP THIS would be a better start and example for other countries to follow.
Chris (the other one)
said
Don
said
James
said
Shane Prpich
said
Having Harper praise Canada's environmental record is like Bush praising America's foreign policy record.
Rob
said
What would you have us do specifically and in a meaningful way, the impact of those countries you so quickly want to ignore, China and India and to an extent Mexico are the problem here in a global sense, and you must not look at this as a Canadian only problem. I recently travelled to Mexico and from 4 miles offshore I could not see the shore line through the smog from the coal fired power plant. I have yet to see that anywhere in Canada. And step away from the rhetoric about the oil sands projects and please educate yourself before you speak, A "wasteland" is a gross exageration, in the way of a scare the world catch phrase, of the way that area will look after mining.
Vic
said
As for climate change, Harper should spend more time listening to what others are doing - his lack of commitment to real action is an embarrassment to Canada.
Allan Eizinas
said
Perhaps not.
Nancy
said
Our commitments to the UN and Nato sponsered mission
and support of the Ukraine and Isreal have given us great influence as our polices are guided by Principals.
China is build 500 hundred that right 500 dirty coal fired plants as we build smaller cars and a nuclear reactor in Northern Alberta we are on the right track.
A job killing tax in Canada that ships more jobs to China is not the answer we need to bring the world together on this. China should become a responsible world citizen and join us in the fight for clean air.
It is embarassing for us that we have to admit for 13 yrs our emissions grew faster than the USA and nothing was done for 13 years except some money being shifted around.
I am going to put a flag on my backpack now that we are back on the world stage prouder than ever.
Earl Robert
said
Tom
said
We need to continue the fight against pollution in general and not tilt at CO2 windmills. I'm appalled at the enviornmental movement for losing sight of that and resorting to fear mongering about a non issue. Envioro's used to make a difference. Now they seem to want to scare little kids to get to their parents, instead.
J.C.
said
Also I see no benefit for Canada (who retain and rebuild their forests) to be with the koyota agreement unless all countries are involved.If countries like China keep emitting while we are conserving, what benefit would we see as more industries would move to those countries where they do not have to have such stringent rules. The problem as I see it is corporate greed.
And by the way, don't knock the baby boomers as we do not know as yet what will be as we move from an industrialized nation into a tech nation. I'm sure technology will cause us many new environmental problems in the future that we are unaware of today. Young people should stop placing blame on the older generation and seek solutions to the problem. After all they might cause worse problems in the future.
A question
said
But isn't a carbon tax another form of an intensity based plan?
JoeC
said
What's wrong with this picture?
MrBill
said
Greg in the Hammer
said
Mean temperature has been flat for 10 years, and could indeed be dropping.
The UN IPCC panel is a sham. Most of the so called leading experts on it are politicians and bureaucrats not scientists and several hundred scientists have had their names removed.
The IPCC does not even look at natural factors that contribute to climate only manmade ones. This is just bad science considering the single largest factor in earths climate is ...wait for it.....THE SUN !
Instead of drinking the "we have to stop increasing GHG Kool Aid" and spouting off rhetoric, how about read some real data people and educate yourselves.
Or just keep being conned and head back to Lemmingville.
Pollution, and air quality standards are what we should be focusing on. Not this delusional concept that anything man can do can change climate.
ET
said
It's recycle day here. I'm looking up the street, and everyone has their blue box out, except for that one house up the street. So I shouldn't put mine out, right? What kind of a "garbage" argument is that?!
Following the US model does not work for this issue. I wish he could see that. I wish he would tell the other world leaders not to worry, and that Canada will have a REAL government soon.
Jonathan
said
Mark
said
I also agree that unless you have the US, China and India trying to do something, it is pointless.
I think Harper is trying to Bridge the gap between the Kyoto Participants, and the Non Kyoto's which I think is a good move. Lets get EVERYONE moving in the same direction.
dp
said
James
said
Robin the Hood
said
Roger T
said
If only citizens from other countries come and have a look at some of the places in Canada that needs MAJOR revamping and needs more attentions on our own environmental problems. Only stupid people across the world will smile and listen in pretense when a politcal leader who has so much internal party problems plaguing him.
No wonder Canada is a needle in a hay stack when it comes to voicing our concerns to the world! It's more like voxles ideas and concerns that maily preached to deaf people.
DO
said
Lart fromAbove
said
The Americans will soon have a government with a rational perspective. Once the US signs the Kyoto accord and starts serious planning for the next phase of global environmental remediation, Canada will be forced to go along. Better late than never, though it's a sad day when Canada allows the US to take the moral high ground on something like this.
It is clear that greenhouse gas emission is a problem caused by our economic activity and that can be influenced by our political decisions. More than half of the increase in atmospheric temperatur in the past thousand years has occurred since 1980, and the problem has become very significantly worse since 2000, which means it can be turned around if we do something about it.
Duffy
said
Jim McB
said
Schemes to redistribute wealth do nothing to help the environment; they give the poor a greater ability to pollute. Environmental taxes (carbon tax) are government money laundering schemes that do little more than enrich a government that in turn will spend on those who support them. The NEP is ample evidence of that model.
It is reassuring to see that the majority of reasonable people support our national approach. The PM should be proud of that, and selling Canada is a good idea. If you don't believe it go and visit some of these so called environmentally friendly countries. Compared to what we have they are light years behind and will never catch up, they don't have the space.
Now if we could only find some reasonable judges who don't think it is a human right to take dope.
Margaret
said
Tori
said
The Oil Sands in Alberta need tougher regulation. One barrel of oil from the sand pits produce 3 times the GHG from conventional mining. There is a plan to strip another 200km sq of the Boreal forest. Less forest more CO2 more ghg.
Around the world emmissions of Methane gas needs to be controlled. Fossil fuel production, farming, waste management and even rice cultivation effects the GHG emitted in the form of methane.
Increased reforestation to help eliminate CO2 and improve our atmosphere. So much of our forests have been removed that we are loosing the natural air filters the earth requires.
“The No. 1 material in the waste stream that creates greenhouse gases is aluminum,” says Steve Apotheker, senior recycling planner for Metro. Get rid of the use of aluminum cans, sorry PEI you guys had it right. Bottle is better. Producing cans cost 3 times the electricity to produce a bottle.
KISS, keeping it simple s**pid. Be consious about your own home. Change your lightbulbs. As you replace appliances use ones that have the Energy Star on them. Insulate your home so you need less air conditioning in the summer and less heat in the winter. Use water efficiently. Recycle everything that can be. Drive more sensibly. Hang your clothes out to dry on nice days. Watch the type of laundry detergent to avoid putting phosphates in the water system. Dispose of batteries, paint cans and hazardous waste properly. When you replace your vehicle purchase a hybrid. This will force vehicle companies to build what we need and reduce the amount of gas used which will in turn lower prices because the stockpile will become huge.
Reducing the GHG emmissions is not just for big business, it is every person living on this earth that needs to be accountable. Cities that do not have proper recycling and waste management need to step up to the plate and put proper procedures in place. City and town vehicles should all be replaced through their natural attrition to eco friendly hybrids.
If Canada wants to lead the world in reducing GHG then it starts in every house. Don't just sit there blaming the PM when we are at the bottom of the pack, do your part then you can complain.
WMS
said
Revy
said
There are so many other ignored factors with regard to climate change. The sun, volcanic activity and the fact that Al Gore kept a secret in his film - CO2 raises after the climate warm (it is an effect - not the cause). The oceans cover most of the planet and the warmer they are, the more CO2 they release - just like a coke! Cold coke - stays fizzy (the CO2 is what makes it fizz), warm coke goes flat right away (de gasses the CO2). It is so simple, but we can't see it because of the misguided enviro-crusaders. Lets focus on polution which is a real problem, not carbon. Think of it... ALL life on earth is carbon based.
David fm NS
said
Jim Cripwell
said
Jim
said
Ron Speakman
said
NB
said
Dan
said
We had a chance to lead, it was squandered.
No shock though given the pandering to hometown Alberta as it is a pollution factory.
History will speak to the failures of this government.
Doug BC
said
I think we got sold out at Kyoto by our last government.And I don't accept massive taxes as the only solution.That approach only creates more poverty and lower living standards for all Canadians.And,let's face it,families struggling to get to work,or feed their kids decently,are ot going to have the money it takes for upgrading to more energy efficient products.They will be sitting at home freezing in the dark.One more reason I no longer vote Liberal.
However,I have to add that I am disappointed by the slow progress of the current government as well.While I favour their legislation and regulation approach,I think they need to get more done,and soon.
Not an easy task for a minority government of any party.And made more difficult by the divisions between the provinces.In fact,that might be the biggest hurdle.Aside from political pandering.
Rick
said
Climate change has been going on ever since the world began. Any of the true scientific studies that I have seen, indicate that man’s influence on climate change is miniscule at best. I do not understand why these environmentalists are trying to stop something that has been naturally occurring for millions of years and will undoubtedly continue, regardless of what actions ‘man’ takes. I am very concerned that these attempts to stop this natural process may have very dire consequences for our planet.
Instead of trying to stop something that we should not and can not, we should be putting our recourses into reacting to climate change. In this regard environmentalists are completely misguided. I to am concerned about the environment, but I’d rather see us cleaning up polluted air, land, rivers and lakes rather than throwing all theses resources at a useless endeavour.
I do understand that most hard line environmentalists are of a younger age set and as such, are very idealistic and easily influenced. A great man once said; “if you’re young and not a liberal you have no heart – if you’re old(er) and not a conservative you have no brain.” HOW TRUE!
MRC
said
Changes in technology & the CONTROL of GROWTH will "save our planet" (save OURSELVES!), nothing else will.
Rob
said
Paul Childs
said
HB
said
Trent
said
Unless you get these countries on board, their pollution increases will more then make up for reductions gained by the contributers at the expense of their economies (more jobs will shift to China and India due to costs being lower). Kyoto would be a zero sum gain at best when looking a pollution reduction!
ance
said
the argument that we should do nothing because we can't stop climate change is stupid and irresponsible...
even if we can't stop climate change we can reduce our human contribution to climate change...
grow up, smarten up, do your part and demand our government and industries do their part...
Shamaro
said
Ivan
said
I think the greatest failing of the any climate change initiative is not that it fails to achieve its objectives, but rather the objectives were incorrect in the first place. Had a country like China chosen to open up to the world sooner, they might have developed while their population was smaller and noticed a natural decrease in population growth that tends to come with a developed society.
Nadine Marothy
said
Although it is all well and good for our industries to adhere to tighter environmental standards as well as labour, quality and safety standards, they come at a cost.
If China and other developing countries aren't held to the same standards, can we apply tariffs so at least our industries have a chance? We are already on an extremely unfair playing field and have lost enough jobs.
Bob Delanore
said
Either way the article touches on a very important theme in Canadian international policy: our increasingly influential role in global trends. Canada's is poised to take a major role due to our extensive natural reserves, yet our government only sees the green, the near and not the future.
Harper is correct in wanting China and Idia to come into Kyoto, however we as leaders must show the way. Take a close look at the way they`re are growing today and you'll see Canada, UK, US,etc., 30 years ago.
James T.
said
Why can't we act aggressively now; and at the same time pressure China and India to go green? Would the weight of our word not ring a heavier truth?
James
said
Pepper
said
Climate Researcher
said
^^In the IPCC's early days, it (accidentally?) paid insufficient attention to natural factors in climate change, such as the sun & clouds. At least in recent years there has been increasing recognition that nonlinear dynamics should NOT simply be dismissed because they are "too hard" to understand & study scientifically. Figuring out the nonlinear dynamics could take decades -- we're not even close yet.
"Lart fromAbove" wrote: "More than half of the increase in atmospheric temperatur in the past thousand years has occurred since 1980 ..."
^This is not true.^
Margaret wrote: "The polar ice caps are melting ..".
^^Although CURRENTLY true, this is a dangerously misleading statement, probably based on a lack of understanding of LAGS. The Earth has a tremendous amount of thermal inertia, particularly in its oceans. Although it does not tell the WHOLE story, one example of a research paper (that gives a PIECE to the puzzle) that illustrates lags is:
icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/63/3/401
Encouragement: It is my hope that everyone contributing to debates like this is CAPABLE of interpreting and judging the research DIRECTLY, rather than relying on politicians & the media in forming an opinion about his very important & very COMPLEX matter, which has PROFOUND economic, social, & environmental ramifications.
There is a lot of both information & misinformation out there, so we have a lot of (learning &) reading to do if we want to empower ourselves to participate responsibly in debates like this.
Dr. Graham Henderson, Ph.d
said
Colin
said
Stephen Green
said
Let us keep this thing in perspective.
Glenn
said
Regardless of whether you believe in global warming, the current emissions are also driving urban polution and poor air quality. Either way, these types of measures will have benefits.
Keith
said
Sooner or later, everyone will have to change their ways; we have too many people and too little resources to continue like this indefinitely. So a little pain now as we develop policies, programs and technologies to carry us forward will put us ahead of the curve and make us leaders. And THAT is where the moey is; if we get there first and have the technologies and the know-how, the world will come to us when their turn comes.
And for those who are worried about losing jobs etc to the polluter nations, once we get our own act together we can make trade conditional on the "green-ness" of the goods they try to sell us. THAT'S how to get India, China et al on board; much of their growth is dependent on exports, so the combination of market pressures and availability of cheap alternative technologies (that we develop) will be enough to bring the laggards along.
Wise Wajid
said
Dr. R J Fudd
said
rob from oilberta...
said
No one denies the climate is changing, fact. The climate always changes, fact. The earth goes through warm periods and cold periods, with or without human help, fact.
I have been hearing from both sides of this debate and for every piece of evidence FOR there is an equal amount of eveidence AGAINST.
Conclusion: no one really knows what is going on. This is a political hot potatoe and I am very glad I am not the PM.
BAN CFL's!! They are worse for the environment than the bulb Edison patented!! For those of you who disagree, enjoy the mercury in your water when these are disposed of.
a proud Canadian
said
Dforestation of the mixed hardwood forest that once covered all of southern Ontario?... No - that's not it... the article says...
"These large protected areas include famous national parks like Banff, Fundy, Gros Morne, and Nahanni, of which our government announced a significant expansion last summer," said Harper.
Here's a few facts...
Nahanni is not a National Park it is a "National Park Reserve"... and the reason it is a "Reserve" is because successive governments have not substantively addressed native land claims and at least three native bands in that area continue to quarrel about who "owns what"...
Further... the "expansion" was in the works for years and did nothing to protect the Greater Nahanni watershed from the Tungsten Mine and its tailings ponds that only last year were found to be in violation of environmental laws...
Are Harper and Canada are being praised for
the twinning of the TransCanada Highway and subdividing wildlife populations by fencing off much of the Bow Valley in Banff... or is it the unchecked growth of Banff townsite and government policies that in recent years have seen cutbacks of 25% in Parks Canada budgets .. or are we to believe that biodiversity is being protected in these parks when we see megadevelopments such as the Lake Louise Conference Center or the paving over of wildlands that once bufferred parks from human impact.
Nope... checking the news archives I see reason for celebratino on Sept 19,2007. On that date Harper's government announced: all scientific field work would stop at the Canadian Wildlife Service, there was
an 80% funding cut to the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Network,
a 50% cut to funding for the Migratory Bird Program, a cut from $1.9 MILLION to zero for the National Wildlife Areas program that protected nationally significant habitats for wildlife...
So there we have it... this must be what Canada is being praised for. Be proud Canadians.
A
said
Trudy
said
As regards the boomer comment. We country boomers have been conserving, preserving, reusing and recycling since there have been folk living in little country communities. All wisdom comes from the country. Once there was no such thing as cities, dense urban areas, subdivisions, condos or apartment buildings. No one represents us in government, on tv, in movies. We don't make much noise about the planet going to hell in a handbasket due to urbanities' wasteful ways. we just get on with living and hope the youngsters get a clue someday. Since our children came along and mostly all wanted to move to the city instead of becoming farmers, the demands made upon our planet resources has risen right along with our children's needs for material pocessions to suit their lifestyle. You have it the wrong way around, my dear.I no more need a kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances than I need a hole in the head. I no more need a vacation in the sun than I need blisters on my butt. Some of us know how to be polite to our elders. You might also thank we boomers for mostly having the 1.5 children much desired by our generation. No more families of ten or more. Our little contribution to keeping the population down. Over population on the planet is the one and only reason for the planetary pickle we all find ourselves in. Too many people consuming resources which do run out. We are all feeling the effects of this now. I can tell from Adrian's comment that she wasn't raised by a real country family. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, eh? Trudy
PM
said
Sonny
said
It is unlikely Canada will be an example for the World given the direction it has taken with the Tar Sands, no matter what Harper says. I will never vote Conservative...
Bernard Romanycia
said
Rural Roots
said
Harper also used the forum to push Canada's strategy to combat climate change.
"We have vowed to get past the empty rhetoric and to take real action to require Canadian industry to make real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions," he said. "
Think about it. He said absolutely nothing.
... and that's our 'strategy to combat climate change'? Talk about empty rhetoric...