Who Cares if Others Sign Copenhagen or Not!

In response to yesterday's post, the argument was made that Canada should not accept restrictions on carbon emissions until other significant polluters do so. This argument asserts that we cannot hurt our economy, as binding restrictions would, if the rest of the world doesn't follow suit. This argument is severely mistaken.

Let me illustrate. In the early 1800s, William Wilberforce worked tirelessly to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire, eventually being successful. Where would the world be if he had listened to the argument outlined above. Other colonial powers were still used slavery as part of their economies. It took real principle and leadership to oppose this and stand for a just cause.

This is the same situation today. Whether we sign a climate change treaty with teeth at Copenhagen should not be based on the other signatories. WE SHOULD SIGN THE TREATY BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IS AT A TIPPING POINT AND CONCRETE ACTION IS NEEDED NOW TO PROTECT OUR PLANET. IT MAY TAKE TRUE LEADERSHIP, IN THE FACE OF THE RECALCITRANCE OF OTHER NATIONS, TO ACT IN WAYS THAT MAY HURT OUR ECONOMY. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DO AND WHAT WE CAN DO.

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