In November 1992 a document entitled Warning to Humanity was released to the scientific community, and was signed by many national academies of science, more than 1500 scientists, and the director general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The document’s message was clear, stating that “human beings and the natural world are on a collision course,” which “may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know.”

The problems facing the environment today are vast and diverse. Air pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases are just some of the problems that will reach critical proportions in the coming decades.

Since the following Rio Declaration in 1992, which dealt with the environment and climate change, representatives from more than 160 countries have met regularly to discuss how to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, thereby slowing the rate of global warming.

In 1997, representative met in Kyoto, Japan and produced an agreement known as the Kyoto protocol which is an agreement that commits agreeing cou

On the international level, if Canada walks away from the accord now, we will loose some credibility in the eyes of all those countries who have already ratified. This is because Canada has successfully suggested many amendments to the protocol that have been accepted, and walking away from the accord now would see as an act of bad faith. Supporters also believe that Chrétien’s quick decision to ratify isn’t an attempt to assure his legacy, but rather a calculated matter of foreign policy.

Even the argument that Canada wants to be recognized as not being dependent on our southern neighbour is under attack. Many Canadians question Chrétien’s commitment to the environmental cause of Kyoto. After signing the Kyoto protocol in 1997, a precursor to ratifying it, Canada put the prospect of Kyoto low on the list of priorities for most of the time since the signing until the Johannesburg summit this summer. This is why it seemed strange, rather a shock when the Prime Minister announces that Canada would be ready to ratify by the end of the year. The current complaint is that the provinces weren’t consulted before Chrétien made sure an important and consequential announcement, considering the five years that stood between the time of signing and ratification. Some argue that this is unfair to the provincial premiers, since the provinces will have to shoulder much of the cost of the ratification. Others argue Jean Chrétien’s purpose for trying to ratify the accord stems from his preoccupation with his legacy rather than a real concern for the environment.

ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING THE RATIFICATION OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL

If Taylor’s projections are true, then why would Canada not give its assent? If the one takes into account the international pressure (and some domestic) to comply and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and the domestic pressure opposed to ratification, it would seem that the proposal to create a Canadian target to reduce emissions is the answer and a fair compromise.

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