Canada takes Fossil "award" on first day of Copenhagen climate conference

Canada has been awarded a Fossil of the Day “award” on the first day of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“Canada garnered today’s award for its unwavering commitment to stand firm in its inaction throughout these negotiations,” a media release states.

The summit, COP15 for short, opened today (December 7) and is scheduled to run through to December 18.

For the duration of the conference, the Fossil of the Day will be presented to whichever country has done the most to delay and otherwise disrupt negotiations for an agreement on a global reduction in carbon emissions. The recipient is determined by a vote conducted by a network of over 400 international and non-governmental organizations.

That coalition’s media release goes on to state: “Since announcing its emissions target in 2007 of reducing GHG emissions by 20% below the 2006 emission level (equivalent to 3 % below the 1990 level), the Harper government has consistently refused to adopt any regulatory framework to start reducing emissions, namely form the rapidly growing sector of tar sands.”

In bestowing the recognition on Canada, the group noted that in a December 4 speech in Montreal, Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice announced that the Conservative government “won't be swayed by the Copenhagen hype”.

Canada is represented at COP15 by Prentice and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who only agreed to travel to Copenhagen after U.S. President Barack Obama and Hu Jintao, the president of China, announced that they would attend.

Canada’s receiving of the first Fossil of the Day was not unexpected. The country was the Fossil of the Year in both 2007 and 2008. And in the weeks preceding COP15, the European press speculated that Canada will do everything it can to sabotage the talks.

This story has been updated to reflect revised information provided by the Climate Action Network.


You can follow Travis Lupick on Twitter at twitter.com/tlupick.

Comments

39 Comments

Pat

Dec 7, 2009 at 11:42am

Stephen Harper and his Conservative Party are an embarrassment. Their environmental policies are a source of shame and Canadians are nowhere near as respected world wide as they once were before these Bush clones came to power (except perhaps in Texas and certain parts of the U.S.). As long as Harper's tar-sands sycophants continue to be elected, Canada will be far far behind other countries in the development of green technology, alternate sources of power, electric cars, and much of what the future world economy will be based on.

Martin

Dec 7, 2009 at 12:31pm

Its too bad the opposition is so unelectable that the incumbent prevails time and time again.

sick of the hypocrisy

Dec 7, 2009 at 12:44pm

Change has to come at the grassroots level. Heaping blame on governments which are a reflection of the will of society is futile. If you want to do something constructive, call TransLink and demand that it operate hydro-electric electric trolley buses rather than CO2 emitting diesel buses powered by diesel fuel on our trolley bus routes!

Wayne the Frog From Washington

Dec 7, 2009 at 1:02pm

Congratulations Canada! You won't be seeing a penny of my tourist dollars, "eh". Oh and I hope you lose at the Olympics. Not winning any medals while they are in your "home town" would be hilarious.

VOTE NDP

Dec 7, 2009 at 1:36pm

Martin wrote: "Its too bad the opposition is so unelectable that the incumbent prevails time and time again."

Do you really have any idea what you are talking about or are you just repeating what the msm has told you? Do you really imagine Harper destroying the middle class, increasing poverty, destroying long fought for social programs,... is the best we can do.

Think harder!

VOTE NDP

Kerry

Dec 7, 2009 at 2:09pm

Here's hoping Canada sweep the Fossil of the Day Awards in Copenhagen. This summit is a complete farce (see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/copenhagen-climate-change-confe/6736517...). Everyone wants to shut down the oilsands, yet no one seems to be able to tell us where all these unemployed workers are going to go. Oh, that's right the government is going to create new "green" jobs for them. What they will be doing, and where they'll be doing it no one know, but there will be jobs, so don't worry. So tell me all of you greenies, what are you willing to give up to live in this new green society. Will you tolerate not being able to travel when and where you want? Will you give up 24 hr internet, television, and any other technology that requires power when you are dependent on unreliable windmills, solar panels, etc. to generate power? How many people will give up eating citrus fruits, grapes, and other foods that must travel great distances to get to your table? Oh, again the government will provide subsidies so that you aren't affected. It all a huge load of crap, and those pushing this down our throats are making out like gangbusters. More wealth distribution, from the middle class to those who need it the least, the Al Gores and Maurice Strongs of the world.

“I’ll believe it’s a crisis when the people who tell me it’s a crisis start acting like it’s a crisis.” - Glenn Reynolds

Lib-Cons...same

Dec 7, 2009 at 2:20pm

It is what it is...unfortunately we would not see much of a change if we had another election. We have to accept our plight and be the laughing stock of the world as a result of Harpers position. As a Canadian, I can tell you WE SUCK...like it or not he is our Prime "Idiot" Minister!

BCer and NDPer!

Dec 7, 2009 at 2:23pm

Wayne the frog your hilarious! The US is the largest emitter of CO2 in the world! As for you, I wont spend a dime in a country that only tries to resolve the problems of the world by invading them under the pretense of WMD's and "protection of US interests".

In fact the US is just a huge inconvenience for those of us that want to holiday in Mexico. What a sick country you have ya'll!

V. Sassoon

Dec 7, 2009 at 2:46pm

No Tar Sands = No Petroleum Hair Products!

What would Stephen Harper's mom use to slick his hair every morning then?

jeff mactavish

Dec 7, 2009 at 3:44pm

Thank God we have sensible Gov't that will not waste billions on some global welfare program that has nothing to do with the enviroment. Thank-you - Stephen Harper!