And so the wealth transfer, instead of actual pollution reduction, begins...
Posted on 02/15/2005 7:23:20 PM PST by nypokerface
OTTAWA (Reuters) - After insisting it would not buy "hot air" from Russia and other countries, the Canadian government said on Tuesday it would have go abroad to buy green credits in order to meet its emissions targets under the Kyoto accord.
Environment Minister Stephane Dion said the government's plans so far were not enough to meet the targets laid down by the international Kyoto treaty on climate change, which comes into force on Wednesday.
Dion said most of the plan he is developing to cut greenhouse gases, blamed for global warming, would bring about reductions in Canadian emissions.
But he conceded: "We may have to, yes, be involved in the credit system, the trading system -- but in a way that will boost Canadian technology."
Under Kyoto, countries pledge lower emissions, but if they cannot make it on their own they are allowed to buy credits elsewhere, the theory being that that is sometimes cheaper and less damaging economically.
Countries emitting less than their quota of greenhouse gases can sell these emissions credits to nations that are over their limits.
But Dion's remarks drew swift condemnation from both the Conservatives on the right and the New Democrats on the left, who have accused Dion of buying "hot air" credits from Russia and who have argued the money should be spent at home.
Canada pledged to cut its emissions to 6 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, but as of 2002 its emissions had swelled 20.1 percent above the 1990 level.
Dion said some measures already decided on, like increasing the amount of ethanol used in gasoline, had yet to take effect and the results would only show up in later years.
As for going abroad for credits, he said it would only be for green credits -- "credits that really give improvements (in) greenhouse gas emissions."
He cited as examples credit for helping countries cut their emissions through better technology or through the use of natural gas or reducing methane from landfills.
"It's a wonderful way to export our technology," he told reporters.
Immediately afterward, Conservative Bob Mills rejoined: "Let's develop that technology in Canada. Let's do what we can do in Canada and let's achieve our targets domestically before we start developing offshore credits."
He added that it would be much more difficult to monitor emission progress in other countries.
New Democrat Bill Blaikie charged the Liberals had done too little since taking power in 1993.
"They've basically treaded water for 11 years on the environment," he said.
And so the wealth transfer, instead of actual pollution reduction, begins...
And so the extortion scheme begins. This thing won't last 2 years.
Easy prediction: not well.
morons really think this is a good idea don't they?
They'd better hope for warm winters (i.e., global warming) and a recession.
I see a world scale redistribution of wealth, but nothing here to clean the air.
Oh, it's working exactly as intended you say.
/Sarcasm
So, basically no one has clean up anything.
As long as Canada can buy its way out of the Kyoto mess, while still pounding its chest as a Kyoto signer, why even bother to clean up?
Oh there won't be a problem. They'll just blame Bush and write up tougher standards, thus transferring MORE wealth.
When that doesn't work, they'll blame Bush and whatever Republican politician is popularly hated by the left and create even TOUGHER standards, thus transferring MORE wealth, because Hillary! would have made sure by that time the US is irrevocably stuck in the Kyoto web and probably pledged to transfer all it's wealth...I mean to buy all of our hot air credits from Russia and China. Or whatever Arab the Democrats surrendered to after President Bush's second term was ended.
Fools.
Due to all the extra 'hot air' spewed out by liberals moving north of the boarder after bushie's re-election??
As Homer's friend, Barney sez, "ha, ha!"
"Prediction: their will not be enough green credits available"
Oh, i think there will be plenty off left over green credits! Why, i think i have a few left over from Friday night after bar closing just sittin' on the nightstand. Ottawa can buy em whenever they want!
The Canadian government has volunteered the Canadian people to pay a tax set by unelected international bodies. In 9 years since Kyoto was conceived, nothing has been done to reduce emissions in Canada. Just a wealth transfer mechanism. Promoted by lie after lie by the government.
<< Fools >>
Agreed. A foolish country and its money are soon parted...
I read a post from the Canadian conservative forum FreeDominion.Ca that 74% of Quebec's populations interviewed supports the Kyoto protocol (any surprise?), but 72% in the same survey indicated they will NOT sell their second cars and use public transport as a measure to support the Kyoto protocol. In other words, at the very minimum we have at least 46% people who support Kyoto but refuse to personally act to support it.
"Do as I say, not as I do!"
Estimated 12 billion dollar Federal surplus and not a peep about lowering taxes, just talk about how they can spend the extra money they've gouged from us.
Kyoto is the biggest foreign aid/global redistribution of wealth scheme in history.
And it's not even clear that it will reduce emissions, much less that global warming is anything other than a natural oscillation in world climate caused by the evil Sun.
I completely agree with you, and I have also made the same points on another thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1344272/posts
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