Fossil of the Day: Canada takes a commanding lead

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Canada has taken a commanding lead here in Durban in the Fossil of the Day awards. The award is given daily at the climate change negotiations for the country doing its best to impede, stall or otherwise oppose progress in climate negotiations. The award is judged by 700+ member organizations of Climate Action Network.

In the past three days, Canada has earned itself two first place and two second place medals, including an impressive sweep on Day 1 in Durban. (The U.S. and Poland deserve honorable mention for their first place medals.) Canada looks on track to earn a 5th consecutive Fossil of the Year.

How did Canada manage such a run? Well, on Monday Canada said it will not entertain a second commitment period for Kyoto. In fact, reports suggest that Canada will take its ball and go home, by formally withdrawing from Kyoto. (If it does, it would be the first such withdrawal.) The official government news agency of China, Xinhua, reprimanded Canada for setting a “bad example.”

Also Monday, Canada insulted all developing countries with this assertion from Canadian Environmental Minister Peter Kent:

Emerging and developing countries need to stop “wielding the historical guilty card” and asking for a free pass on emissions reductions just because in the past, industrialized countries had more emissions than the rest of the world.

Yes, after a few hundred years of emissions by developed countries, apparently Canada feels that it is time for developing countries to pay the price.

And here is Mr.Kent on Tuesday, for the gold:

There is an urgency to this. We don’t need a binding convention, what we need is action and a mandate to work on an eventual binding convention.

Does anyone else object to the use of the words urgency and eventual in the same thought?

On Wednesday, Mr. Kent was back on his crusade to make poor, developing countries on the front lines of climate impacts pay for the mistakes of Canada:

There is a fairly widely held perception in the developing world of the need for guilt payment to be built into any international deal on climate.

Mr. Kent’s view stands in direct opposition to the principle of “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities,” upon which Kyoto was constructed. The idea is simple: those who have contributed the most to the problem should contribute the most to the solution. By that measure, Mr. Kent has some work to do.

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Reader Comments

66 Replies to “Fossil of the Day: Canada takes a commanding lead”

  1. Sometimes when I come across a garbage blog like this one I have a hard time trying to figure out what is more sad:

    1) That a person with all your credentials is so profoundly ignorant to quote the Chinese State news agency as some sort of authority on the plight of the poor.

    2) That more than 24 hours after posting something on an “important” issue such as climate change, the only people who have engaged you have done so to mock you.

    That you have a fellowship at a university is nothing short of a slap in the face to the taxpayers of California. How many years did you study? I’m willing to judge all of those as a tragic failure of education in the broadest sense of the word.

    1. Note that I was quoting the Chinese news agency not as authority on the plight of the poor, but rather as authority on the stance of China in these climate negotiations. My purpose was only to present the interesting juxtaposition between Canada and China. It is precisely because I am aware of China’s history of human rights abuses, poor economic policies, etc. that I find it ironic when China reprimands Canada.

  2. Sometimes when I come across a garbage blog like this one I have a hard time trying to figure out what is more sad:

    1) That a person with all your credentials is so profoundly ignorant to quote the Chinese State news agency as some sort of authority on the plight of the poor.

    2) That more than 24 hours after posting something on an “important” issue such as climate change, the only people who have engaged you have done so to mock you.

    That you have a fellowship at a university is nothing short of a slap in the face to the taxpayers of California. How many years did you study? I’m willing to judge all of those as a tragic failure of education in the broadest sense of the word.

    1. Note that I was quoting the Chinese news agency not as authority on the plight of the poor, but rather as authority on the stance of China in these climate negotiations. My purpose was only to present the interesting juxtaposition between Canada and China. It is precisely because I am aware of China’s history of human rights abuses, poor economic policies, etc. that I find it ironic when China reprimands Canada.

  3. Hmm, lemme think,

    Canada = 2% of CO2 emissions, China = 25% of C02 emissions.

    Oilsands = 14% of 2% of Canada’s emissions.= .03% of world CO2 – China = 25%

    Canada = freedom and democracy. Venezuela & Middle East = tyranny and oppression.

    Canada = environmental controls, CO2 sequestration – Nigeria = huge oil spills, disease, corruption, genital mutilation,

    Oh, and yes, Climategate 1.0 < Climategate 2.0

    I am so proud to live in a country that is not afraid to call the whole AGW effort (and what is it called now that there is no warming? Ah, yes, "Climate Change"), a total and cynical fraud perpetrated on the developed world.

    Hint for the Berkeley intellectuals: G-O-O-G-L-E dot COM on a computer.

  4. Hmm, lemme think,

    Canada = 2% of CO2 emissions, China = 25% of C02 emissions.

    Oilsands = 14% of 2% of Canada’s emissions.= .03% of world CO2 – China = 25%

    Canada = freedom and democracy. Venezuela & Middle East = tyranny and oppression.

    Canada = environmental controls, CO2 sequestration – Nigeria = huge oil spills, disease, corruption, genital mutilation,

    Oh, and yes, Climategate 1.0 < Climategate 2.0

    I am so proud to live in a country that is not afraid to call the whole AGW effort (and what is it called now that there is no warming? Ah, yes, "Climate Change"), a total and cynical fraud perpetrated on the developed world.

    Hint for the Berkeley intellectuals: G-O-O-G-L-E dot COM on a computer.

  5. Personally, I think every Canadian should have a fossil award to put on display in our living rooms every winter, when we have the furnaces fired up to the max to keep warm and toasty when it’s -50 C outside. BRING – IT – ON!!!!

    Oh, and maybe one to hang from the rear view mirror in our gas guzzling vehicles, especially those that have a block heater installed that has to be plugged in overnight when it’s colder than -20 C, otherwise they won’t start in the morning, and we won’t be able to see through the windshield because the cold air has frosted/fogged it all up.

    And I won’t even mention how far we have to drive to get from point A (where we live) to point B (where we work) after we get the damned things started when it’s -50 C throughout the month of January and part of February. But it’s a good thing we do get to work, cause without that income, how could we send all that foreign aid to backward countries spewing CO2 into the atmosphere.

    But that’s a Canadian thing. We’re a hardy lot. We like it.

    Anyway, I want my fossil award!!! And I want it now!!!!

  6. Personally, I think every Canadian should have a fossil award to put on display in our living rooms every winter, when we have the furnaces fired up to the max to keep warm and toasty when it’s -50 C outside. BRING – IT – ON!!!!

    Oh, and maybe one to hang from the rear view mirror in our gas guzzling vehicles, especially those that have a block heater installed that has to be plugged in overnight when it’s colder than -20 C, otherwise they won’t start in the morning, and we won’t be able to see through the windshield because the cold air has frosted/fogged it all up.

    And I won’t even mention how far we have to drive to get from point A (where we live) to point B (where we work) after we get the damned things started when it’s -50 C throughout the month of January and part of February. But it’s a good thing we do get to work, cause without that income, how could we send all that foreign aid to backward countries spewing CO2 into the atmosphere.

    But that’s a Canadian thing. We’re a hardy lot. We like it.

    Anyway, I want my fossil award!!! And I want it now!!!!

  7. Just going out to buy groceries so I think I will let the car run for about another 15 minutes so that it is warm. I’m so proud of Canada for finally stating the obvious and not being conned the the nonsense from the rest of the world. I challenge anyone in S.Africa to live on the Canadian prairies for even one winter!!!

  8. Just going out to buy groceries so I think I will let the car run for about another 15 minutes so that it is warm. I’m so proud of Canada for finally stating the obvious and not being conned the the nonsense from the rest of the world. I challenge anyone in S.Africa to live on the Canadian prairies for even one winter!!!

  9. I’m happy to see Canada taking such line. In an age of guilt-manipulators, we finally have a government that won’t be intimidated by world socialists who are using climate change scare tactics to bully nations into accepting loss of sovereignty.

  10. I’m happy to see Canada taking such line. In an age of guilt-manipulators, we finally have a government that won’t be intimidated by world socialists who are using climate change scare tactics to bully nations into accepting loss of sovereignty.

  11. I will be sending Mr. Harper a letter today asking why we have not taken home all of the gold medals. We need to put our money to action to ensure that we never see a second place finish again…. EVER! This is not acceptable!

  12. I will be sending Mr. Harper a letter today asking why we have not taken home all of the gold medals. We need to put our money to action to ensure that we never see a second place finish again…. EVER! This is not acceptable!

  13. ‘A FEW HUNDRED YEARS OF EMISSIONS’? (emphasis mine). Are we back to the cow and horse flatulence of the preindustrial era? Or apparently great granddad put that team of horses on the wagon just for the photo op.
    If you want to be the least bit credible at least be factual/honest.

    The commenters have made my morning. Canada is a country full of acerbically funny people. You make me proud. As does the Harper gov’t – finally!

    GO CANADA GO

  14. ‘A FEW HUNDRED YEARS OF EMISSIONS’? (emphasis mine). Are we back to the cow and horse flatulence of the preindustrial era? Or apparently great granddad put that team of horses on the wagon just for the photo op.
    If you want to be the least bit credible at least be factual/honest.

    The commenters have made my morning. Canada is a country full of acerbically funny people. You make me proud. As does the Harper gov’t – finally!

    GO CANADA GO

  15. As a Canadian, I’ve never been more proud of my government. Refusing to buy into this wealth redistribution scam is one of the smartest things they’ve ever done.

    PS

    It’s cold in Calgary today… I’ll be leaving my big 4×4 pick-up running a little longer to make sure it’s warm before hopping in.

  16. As a Canadian, I’ve never been more proud of my government. Refusing to buy into this wealth redistribution scam is one of the smartest things they’ve ever done.

    PS

    It’s cold in Calgary today… I’ll be leaving my big 4×4 pick-up running a little longer to make sure it’s warm before hopping in.

  17. I still can’t believe that governments have convinced people that the planet’s climate can be controlled with taxes. Galls me to no end.

  18. I still can’t believe that governments have convinced people that the planet’s climate can be controlled with taxes. Galls me to no end.

  19. “Yes, after a few hundred years of emissions by developed countries, apparently Canada feels that it is time for developing countries to pay the price.”

    A few hundred years eh? That would place Canada as an industrially developed power in 1711. lol!!

    Idiot!!

  20. “Yes, after a few hundred years of emissions by developed countries, apparently Canada feels that it is time for developing countries to pay the price.”

    A few hundred years eh? That would place Canada as an industrially developed power in 1711. lol!!

    Idiot!!

  21. Back to back to back gold medals? You like me! You really like!

    Today is my proudest moment as a country and we didn’t even have to vote in an empty man to erase our non existent bourgeois guilt.

  22. Back to back to back gold medals? You like me! You really like!

    Today is my proudest moment as a country and we didn’t even have to vote in an empty man to erase our non existent bourgeois guilt.

  23. “..developing countries on the front lines of climate impacts..

    They’re on the front lines for everything, starvation, infant mortality, genocide, ignorance and of course, aid. Don’t you ever get tired of being lied to. If anyone’s on the front lines here, it’s Canada. It takes guts to stand up to the socialist/environmental carpetbaggers and their third world goons. Been a long time since I felt this proud to be Canadian….

  24. “..developing countries on the front lines of climate impacts..

    They’re on the front lines for everything, starvation, infant mortality, genocide, ignorance and of course, aid. Don’t you ever get tired of being lied to. If anyone’s on the front lines here, it’s Canada. It takes guts to stand up to the socialist/environmental carpetbaggers and their third world goons. Been a long time since I felt this proud to be Canadian….

  25. I see three choices America can use to power her future:

    First would be unicorn farts, wind turbines, solar whatevers, and wishful thinking. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for innovation and America does that better than anyone, but the stone age didn’t end because we humans ran out of rock, but because we developed superior technology; the oil age will likewise end when we supplant it with something better, not worse.

    Second would be nice clean energy from someplace offshore like Venezuela, Nigeria, or Saudi. What, you don’t think that merely exporting our money, jobs, and ethical stance against human rights and environmental abuses is enough? How ’bout we also export our implicit support of those odious regimes along with our financial support of peoples who hate us because we don’t pray correctly – feel better now?

    Third, we would develop our own energy blessings in an intelligent, rational manner that allows energy independence and security. Lets start with the Canadian oilsands project and the Keystone XL pipeline needed to bring the product to market. Stripped of all the histrionics, both projects are examples of the type of projects we need to asure ethical supplies of energy withput any of the nasty side-effects like funding Islamic fascism. As a bonus we get to retain the jobs too.

  26. I see three choices America can use to power her future:

    First would be unicorn farts, wind turbines, solar whatevers, and wishful thinking. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all for innovation and America does that better than anyone, but the stone age didn’t end because we humans ran out of rock, but because we developed superior technology; the oil age will likewise end when we supplant it with something better, not worse.

    Second would be nice clean energy from someplace offshore like Venezuela, Nigeria, or Saudi. What, you don’t think that merely exporting our money, jobs, and ethical stance against human rights and environmental abuses is enough? How ’bout we also export our implicit support of those odious regimes along with our financial support of peoples who hate us because we don’t pray correctly – feel better now?

    Third, we would develop our own energy blessings in an intelligent, rational manner that allows energy independence and security. Lets start with the Canadian oilsands project and the Keystone XL pipeline needed to bring the product to market. Stripped of all the histrionics, both projects are examples of the type of projects we need to asure ethical supplies of energy withput any of the nasty side-effects like funding Islamic fascism. As a bonus we get to retain the jobs too.

  27. Although I’m disappointed that we haven’t sewn up Fossil Of The Year by the end of day one, I’m sure with a bit of effort we can take home the gold.

    I’m prouder of my country than I have been in years. The only thing that would be better is a commitment to halt all foreign aid to those countries that insist on biting the hand that feeds them.

  28. Although I’m disappointed that we haven’t sewn up Fossil Of The Year by the end of day one, I’m sure with a bit of effort we can take home the gold.

    I’m prouder of my country than I have been in years. The only thing that would be better is a commitment to halt all foreign aid to those countries that insist on biting the hand that feeds them.

  29. I want to assure you Rhead — and all of bloggers here — that the yahoos who have posted here do not represent Canadians generally. Like most places I imagine, there are Canadian interested in thoughtful discussion and constructive debate, and then there are those who prefer playground antics. The latter group tends to move in herds, which explains their disproportionate representation here.
    Best,
    Martin Olszynski, LL.M. (UC Berkeley, 2011)

  30. I want to assure you Rhead — and all of bloggers here — that the yahoos who have posted here do not represent Canadians generally. Like most places I imagine, there are Canadian interested in thoughtful discussion and constructive debate, and then there are those who prefer playground antics. The latter group tends to move in herds, which explains their disproportionate representation here.
    Best,
    Martin Olszynski, LL.M. (UC Berkeley, 2011)

  31. “the yahoos who have posted here do not represent Canadians generally. ”

    But the snots who attend UC Berkeley do, I suppose.

    Tell you what, when you graduate with your useless degree I’ll give you a job starting my car in January and February and scraping the frost off the windows so I can see as I drive away. (Taking the time to scrape the frost and wipe the snow off the windows should also give the engine enough time to warm up, which, I am told, will be much easier on the engine and is more fuel efficient as I take the 45 minute drive to work. Unfortunately, there’s no public transportation out in the boonies.)

  32. “the yahoos who have posted here do not represent Canadians generally. ”

    But the snots who attend UC Berkeley do, I suppose.

    Tell you what, when you graduate with your useless degree I’ll give you a job starting my car in January and February and scraping the frost off the windows so I can see as I drive away. (Taking the time to scrape the frost and wipe the snow off the windows should also give the engine enough time to warm up, which, I am told, will be much easier on the engine and is more fuel efficient as I take the 45 minute drive to work. Unfortunately, there’s no public transportation out in the boonies.)

  33. Rhead Enion @ December 5, 2011 4:53 pm: Very interesting evasion, pal. In your article you mention Canada nine times and the word Canadian once. “Canada” is in the title. “Canada”, not “China”, is in the tags list.

    You clearly need to get out of California once in a while. It’s too warm there. It’s fried both your writing and intellectual abilities.

    Do you know what -50C is in Fahrenheit? It’s -58F. I suspect you cannot even imagine that. Think of it next time you’re lying on a warm beach somewhere. Exposed skin freezes within seconds. Spend some time contemplating how we evil Canadians manage (and need) to keep ourselves warm in the winter with carbon based fuel.

    If you come up with an alternative for us, let us know. Solar won’t work, ’cause the days get pretty short in the dead of winter, especially in the high arctic, where the sun doesn’t even rise for six weeks between mid-December and the end of January. Wind power only works when the wind is blowing, and when it’s -58F, the air is mighty still. The only time we get wind is when there’s a blizzard blowing through, or a chinook rolling in from the Rockies. In both cases, it’s considered a warm winter day, ’cause it’s usually less than -20C (that’s somewhere above -4F).

    Have a warm day!

  34. Rhead Enion @ December 5, 2011 4:53 pm: Very interesting evasion, pal. In your article you mention Canada nine times and the word Canadian once. “Canada” is in the title. “Canada”, not “China”, is in the tags list.

    You clearly need to get out of California once in a while. It’s too warm there. It’s fried both your writing and intellectual abilities.

    Do you know what -50C is in Fahrenheit? It’s -58F. I suspect you cannot even imagine that. Think of it next time you’re lying on a warm beach somewhere. Exposed skin freezes within seconds. Spend some time contemplating how we evil Canadians manage (and need) to keep ourselves warm in the winter with carbon based fuel.

    If you come up with an alternative for us, let us know. Solar won’t work, ’cause the days get pretty short in the dead of winter, especially in the high arctic, where the sun doesn’t even rise for six weeks between mid-December and the end of January. Wind power only works when the wind is blowing, and when it’s -58F, the air is mighty still. The only time we get wind is when there’s a blizzard blowing through, or a chinook rolling in from the Rockies. In both cases, it’s considered a warm winter day, ’cause it’s usually less than -20C (that’s somewhere above -4F).

    Have a warm day!

Comments are closed.

About M. Rhead

M. Rhead Enion was the UCLA Law Emmett/Frankel environmental law fellow for 2010–2013. His research interests include cap-and-trade, coastal science and policy, environ…

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About M. Rhead

M. Rhead Enion was the UCLA Law Emmett/Frankel environmental law fellow for 2010–2013. His research interests include cap-and-trade, coastal science and policy, environ…

READ more