September 6, 2002

Kyoto Ratification

Canada's ratification of the Kyoto protocol is in the news due to fighting words out of Alberta (and fuzzy mini-Ralph comments from Premier Campbell). International agreements on climate change are over ten years old, and work to give force to the Kyoto protocol has been going on since 1998. Detailed implementation work has been underway in Canada since 1997. The struggle between Alberta and Ottawa did not begin with the Prime Minister's announcement that the protocol would be ratified this year.

International treaty making has a language of its own. Many people may not realize, for example, that Canada signed the Kyoto protocol on April 29, 1998, but signature is different from ratification, acceptance or approval. Canada's signature on the protocol in 1998 merely means that Canada will work toward ratification and not work contrary to the treaty. President Bush opposes the protocol but the United States signed it in 1998. 186 countries have done so. The protocol comes into force when 55 countries ratify including ratification by enough of the 41 listed industrialized countries so as to account for 55% of their emissions. Canada accounts for 2% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and 3.3% of the emissions for industrialized countries.

The Kyoto protocol was preceded by the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Canada signed the framework convention on June 12, 1992, and ratified it on December 4, 1992. China, India and the United States as well as dozens of other nations ratified the framework in 1994.

In April, 1998, Canada's Energy and Environment Ministers followed up on a December 1997 commitment by the First Ministers by approving a document entitled "Canada's National Post Kyoto Climate Change Implementation Process". It outlined a national process that included an agreement to have the National Air Issues Steering Committee (comprised of federal, provincial and territorial Energy and Environment Deputy Ministers) take responsibility for managing the development of Canada's national response to climate change.

A website was established at http://www.nccp.ca/ to keep the public informed on the development of a national strategy for climate change. That site includes the communiqué issued by the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of Energy and the Environment from their May 21st, 2002, meeting. Alberta was not in agreement with the communiqué, which said:

"Given that climate change is already having an effect on our economy, health, safety and ecosystems, with environmental effects being felt particularly in the North, Ministers agreed to a National Adaptation Framework designed to help jurisdictions develop adaptation strategies to deal with the impact of climate change."

Some people are trying to exploit the unpopularity of the Prime Minister as well as a bit of good old western alienation to oppose ratification of the Kyoto protocol. Some of those critics will even argue with the statement that "climate change is already having an effect on our economy, health, safety and ecosystems". The overwhelming majority of scientists who study global warning advise that it may become irreversible! This is not about a petty federal provincial dispute. It is about the survival of the planet. The precautionary principle should be applied by giving the benefit of the doubt to the environment.

25% of Canada's greenhouse gases (40% of BC's) come from transportation. Forcing SUVs and light trucks to meet the same pollution standards as fuel efficient cars would be a good start for a Kyoto implementation plan.

Also see: "A Guide to the Climate Change Convention Its Kyoto Protocol", 2002 (pdf);
"National Implementation Strategy on Climate Change", February 2000 (pdf); and
BC's Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection