| Changing for good
Kyoto. It's everywhere in the news these days. But while most of Canada prepares to adopt this important treaty, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is vowing to fight it to the end, and a couple of big industry groups are red-faced from all their shouting.
Talk about a waste of energy – if these people spent half the time actually working towards reducing pollution that they do trying to avoid taking responsibility for it, they'd have met the Kyoto targets by now.
Seriously, if we succumbed to this kind of "can't-do" mentality every time we changed the way we use energy, we'd still be in the Stone Age. Society has faced serious challenges before and risen to the occasion. If we stop bickering for a minute and get on with it, I'm confident we can avoid the worst effects of global warming that scientists are warning us about.
And I'm not alone. When Prime Minister Chrétien agreed to vote on ratifying Kyoto this fall, he was not acting on a whim. His decision reflected the desires of the majority of Canadians. Polling has consistently shown a high level of support for the treaty – even in Alberta. Municipalities all over the country also support the Protocol. Many of them – including Calgary, Alberta – are already well on their way to meeting pollution-reduction targets. Many business groups support the treaty, too, because although it will reduce growth in the fossil-fuel sector, it will lead to increased growth in other sectors.
So why are some of the big lobby groups scared? Well, when it comes to polluting industries like coal and tar-sands operations, Kyoto is seen as just the first step in their gradual elimination. That's probably true if we're serious about achieving climate stability – it really is the end of an era. But switching energy sources is a natural progression of human society. We've done it before, from wood to coal, then to oil and natural gas. Each time, we've improved efficiency, reduced pollution and improved our lives.
Try to imagine what the world would be like if we hadn't kept changing our energy sources. Just 50 years ago, London, England was choking with air pollution. As the winter of 1952 settled in, millions of Londoners across the city stoked coal fireplaces to stave off the cold. Coal was cheap and readily available. And deadly. Coal is a very inefficient fuel – burning it produces lots of smoke, carbon dioxide and ash. Over the winter of 1952, more than 4,000 people in London died from smog.
It was a series of these killer smogs that pushed governments to enact clean air regulations. These regulations spurred invention – industry became more efficient, consumers had more choices, air quality and health improved, our lives got better.
Kyoto is another such step that will spur invention and efficiency. The treaty was not developed overnight – it has taken years of negotiations, thousands of scientists and thousands of studies to make sure the target is achievable and practical. It is both.
This isn't to say that we can meet Kyoto with our eyes closed. On the contrary, to make the most out of Kyoto, we need to have a very well-designed action plan. That is what we should be working on now – not defending half a decade of treaty negotiations and consultations.
The Kyoto Protocol is about responsibility. We've caused a problem that will get worse and worse unless we do something. The droughts experienced this summer on the Prairies and the smog in our cities show us a glimpse of a future we'd rather not have. In this age where government fiscal responsibility is touted as a commandment, how can we not be environmentally responsible as well? What we need now is real discourse on how we can best take advantage of Kyoto and meet our commitment in ways that will benefit all Canadians. Let's get on with it.
Science Matters is a regular feature by writer, geneticist and television host David Suzuki. To discuss this topic with others, visit the discussion forum at www.davidsuzuki.org. |
