A rchive Date
[ 19-02-2002 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Canada ]
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[http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/jackson.html
It's madness, Joe
Clark fails to see huge faultlines built into the Kyoto accord
By PAUL JACKSON - Calgary Sun
February 19, 2002 Premier Ralph Klein says the Kyoto pact on carbon gas emissions will "devastate" Alberta's economy and make the National Energy Program look like a Sunday afternoon picnic. That's why Klein and his cabinet have been in the forefront in opposing this reckless pact that threatens to transfer much of the industrialized world's wealth to Third World countries.
President George W. Bush, realizing the turmoil the agreement would unleash on his nation's economy, has pulled the U.S. out of the pact.
Yet - and this seems incredible - Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark supports the Kyoto pact and actually condemns Prime Minister Jean Chretien's government for going slow on implementing its regulations and rules.
That's even though Canada's oil industry - whose offices sit right in the midst of his Calgary Centre constituency - have warned of the consequences.
Significantly, Clark put forward his views on the pact not in Calgary, where his audience would have been outraged, but in Toronto, at the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Conference. on Feb. 7
Clark lauded his own government's commitments to reducing carbon gases, but declared that after his government's defeat in 1993, the Liberals failed to follow through with a concrete strategy for implementation of Kyoto.
That, he said, was even though the Liberals committed themselves to Kyoto in their now notorious Red Book of promises.
Clark said the object of Kyoto is not in dispute. "However, the policy instruments Canada will choose to meet that goal are still undefined. The federal government insists the Kyoto Protocol will soon be ratified.
"But Canada remains without any serious action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure our competitive advantage," he said.
Under the pact, Canada promises to reduce carbon and other fossil fuel emissions to 6% below their 1990 level by 2010.
But since 1990, carbon gas emissions in Canada have increased by 16%, so under Kyoto, we would now have to cut emissions by 22%.
That's why oil industry experts warn that to meet Kyoto terms, large refineries will have to be shut and oil sands plants now in the planning stage may have to be scrapped.
Two huge faultlines are built into Kyoto:
The idea greenhouse gases cause global warming is only a theory. It's generally a theory put forward by pseudo-environmentalists with many a scientist claiming global warming is just a natural reoccurring cycle. Why sacrifice our economy for an unproven theory?
Because Third-World nations such as India and Mainland China aren't required to abide by Kyoto, manufacturing plants, which in the western world will become economically unfeasible to operate under the new environmental conditions, will close down and transfer their operations and jobs to the no-rules Third World.
Clark warned if Canada does not live up to its commitments, we will face fines or other financial penalties.
That didn't stop Bush from pulling out. Since then, I've been unable to find any evidence that financial penalties have been imposed on the U.S.
Clark also told the conference if Canada doesn't come through on its Kyoto commitments, our reputation as a reliable, responsible upholder of international agreements will be severely tarnished.
Again, since Bush declared Kyoto unworkable and ditched it. I've seen no evidence America's international reputation has been tarnished. Indeed, Bush's international image today is far higher than it was when he torpedoed Kyoto. Clark actually told the conference that Canada should "engage" the U.S. to get on the Kyoto bandwagon again.
Canada has to recognize, he said, that U.S. involvement is a necessary component of a successful climate change strategy getting the U.S. to come back to Kyoto is a pipedream: Estimates are if the U.S. agreed to Kyoto, it would lose 2.4 million jobs and $300 billion in gross national product.
In Canada, it's estimated our jobless rate would permanently jump by more than 3% under Kyoto. Another blow, say experts is gas prices at the pump would double. Despite this, and Clark's admonishment, the Chretien government is apparently planning to ratify Kyoto before the G-8 Summit this summer.
It's just madness. Madness Ralph Klein can see.
Madness Joe Clark can't see. Jackson, associate editor of the Sun, can be reached at paul.jackson@calgarysun.com Letters to the editor should be sent to callet@sunpub.com
 World Fact Book (CIA]
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