Well most media, environmentalists, and all the opposition parties are crying that Canada's environment plan is not tough enough and that it doesn't meet the Kyoto targets. They are already up in arms, even before the G8 Summit has started.
That's PM Harper's ace up his sleeve. He has already clearly stated that Canada can not meet it's Kyoto targets, he did it again in Germany today.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper told a German business audience Monday that Canada won't meet its Kyoto targets to lower greenhouse gas emissions, but can be a world leader in battling climate change.......
In an interview with CBC's chief political correspondent Keith Boag on Monday, Merkel said she's not pleased Canada has abandoned any attempt to meet its short-term Kyoto targets.
However, she did say she shares common ground with Harper on long-term targets, with both calling for significant reductions on greenhouse gases by 2050.
"Of course we are not happy at this point that Canada has abandoned Kyoto's goals. But Canada says it also sees the necessity to put in place long-term goals for reduction until the middle of the century," Merkel said in German.
"And when I said I wasn't happy Canada abandoned the Kyoto goals, I am equally encouraged that we can agree that, long term, we need to reduce emissions significantly."
Harper will also meet with France's new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and French Prime Minister François Fillon on Tuesday before returning to Germany for the G8.
So, Merkel understands Canada's position, and is making nice. Why? What would happen if Canada actually did pull out of Kyoto, legally we still can, without paying any penalties. So, did Harper remind Merkel that Kyoto would die if Canada legally pulled out? Did he remind her that Canada is the only North American industrialized nation that has signed Kyoto, and if we pull out, they have NO chance of getting the US on line?
Article 27
1. At any time after three years from the date on which this Protocol has entered into force
for a Party, that Party may withdraw from this Protocol by giving written notification to the
Depositary.
2. Any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the date of receipt by
the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or on such later date as may be specified in the
notification of withdrawal.
3. Any Party that withdraws from the Convention shall be considered as also having
withdrawn from this Protocol.
Looks like we have until Feb of 2008 to leave, legally!
Are the Europeans drooling thinking about carbon trading with the US? You bet they are, and you can bet that they will do anything they can to get the US on board, even making nice to Canada. Same message will be sent to Sarkozy, who is talking about penalties for those who don't meet their Kyoto targets. PM Harper just needs to remind him that we are legally able to get out of Kyoto, so France will get no money from us and no US agreement. Canada, Japan, Australia and the US can have their own, non-UN based pact.
PM Harper is there early getting the message out, then the US follows up on Wednesday, it's a one, two punch. If they get India and China on board, it's a knockout!
That's why the environmentalists are out in full cry, they aren't going to get what they want, and if the EU insists on hard targets, they are going to be going it alone. The opposition can whine all they want, but Canadians will see it as a great solution.
I wonder how many other aces PM Harper has up his sleeve?
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