At Copenhagen, Canada takes “Colossal Fossil” distinction for third year in row

The recognition was bestowed on our carbon-loving country on Friday (December 18) at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Canada beat out a number of worthy competitors, including the United States, China, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.

Also known as the Colossal Fossil”, the recognition aims to shame the country that has done the most to hinder progress on combating climate change. It is judged by the Climate Action Network, a loose consortium of some 500 NGOs from around the world.

In Copenhagen, Ben Wikler of Avaaz.org, an international activist group, presented the award with these remarks:

Fossil of the Year goes to CANADA, for bringing a totally unacceptable position into Copenhagen and refusing to strengthen it one bit. Canada’s 2020 target is among the worst in the industrialized world, and leaked cabinet documents revealed that the governments is contemplating a cap-and-trade plan so weak that it would put even that target out of reach.

Canada has made zero progress here on financing, offering nothing for the short term or the long term beyond vague platitudes. And in last night’s high-level segment, Canada’s environment minister gave a speech so lame that it didn’t include a single target, number or reference to the science.

Canada’s performance here in Copenhagen builds on two years of delay, obstruction and total inaction. This government thinks there’s a choice between environment and economy, and for them, tar sands beats climate every time. Canada’s emissions are headed nowhere but up. For all this and more, we name Canada the Colossal Fossil.

Over the course of the eleven day summit (December 7-18), Canada has routinely been targeted for its obstructionist role in negotiations.

Canada received several “Fossil of the Day” awards and was the target of a hoax by the Yes Men that received media attention around the world.

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