20 MB - University of Toronto Magazine

SMOKE ANDMIRRORSSo far, Canada has taken no realaction on climate change. It’s timeto get serious about KyotoBY JOHN LORINCILLUSTRATION: MARTIN O’NEIL/THREE IN A BOXIN FOUR SHORT YEARS, the Kyoto Protocol will expire,laying bare the ineffectiveness of Canada’s six successive climate-changeplans.The numbers already tell the tale. While Canada committedto reduce greenhouse gas emissions to six per cent below1990 levels by 2012, the reality is that we’re more than 30 percent above that benchmark. And thanks to the oil sands projectsin northern Alberta, our emissions continue to rise.During last November’s climate change summit in Bali, theEuropean Union signalled it is looking for a successor to Kyotothat would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 40per cent (from 1990 levels) by 2020. For Canada, that wouldmean cutting our current emissions by more than half.Canada’s dismal record illustrates the failure of voluntaryprograms and clean-energy subsidies. Under both the Liberalsand now the Conservatives, Ottawa has sought to reduce emissionsusing consumer incentives (for fuel efficient cars andhome improvements), research grants, and subsidies for transitand renewable energy projects, such as wind farms. Evidently,this strategy has failed to make a dent. “The problem with thecurrent policies is that they’re all out in the future,” saysUniversity of Toronto economics professor Don Dewees.“That’s a mistake because we wind up doing nothing.”Pointing to Canada’s backsliding, climate change expertsincreasingly stress the need for a more assertive approach.Some politicians are taking heed. Earlier this year, BritishColumbia became the first jurisdiction in North America toimpose a genuine carbon tax. Until recently, such movesseemed to lack grassroots support. But Dewees has been takenaback by how quickly public opinion is shifting. A poll conductedin February found that three out of four BritishColumbians support a carbon tax. “A year ago, I would havesaid, ‘Let’s not talk about a carbon tax because it’s politicallyhopeless.’ But that’s changing,” says Dewees.As Canada heads toward the next round of climate talks,slated for December in Poland, we asked several U of Texperts to propose an effective climate change strategy thatwill get us on track to meet our Kyoto commitments –without hobbling the economy.30 UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MAGAZINE / SPRING 2008