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Canada’s Fair Share in a Climate Constrained World: An analysis of Canada’s climate obligations under the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework

This report argues that Canadians badly need to take a hard, fresh look at the climate challenge, and at their place in the necessary global response.

Sivan Kartha, Eric Kemp-Benedict / Published on 19 January 2010
Citation

Athanasiou, T.; Kartha, S.; Baer, P.; Kemp-Benedict, E. (2009). Canada’s Fair Share in a Climate Constrained World: An analysis of Canada’s climate obligations under the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework. Athanasiou, T., S. Kartha, P. Baer and E. Kemp-Benedict (2009). Canada’s Fair Share in a Climate Constrained World: An analysis of Canada’s climate obligations under the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework. Berlin: Heinrich Böll Foundation.

In Canada, climate change policy has been dominated by short-term approaches that have systematically sacrificed responsible commitments in favor of sectoral interests.

The result is that, while many Canadians are responsible global citizens and want their country to play a constructive role on the world stage, Canada’s record on climate change has been entirely undistinguished. Frankly, Canada has been part of the problem, not part of the solution.

This is a situation that Canada must quickly put behind it. The pre-Copenhagen negotiations have not been going at all well, and Canada can hardly claim to be helping. Indeed, its actions are often cited as evidence that a much stronger compliance regime is necessary.

Moreover, Canada, which has long hidden behind the laggard policies of previous US administrations, must now contend with a popular and capable American president who intends to act boldly in the face of the economic, ecological and security threats posed by climate change. In this context, Canadians badly need to take a hard, fresh look at the climate challenge, and at their place in the necessary global response.

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SEI authors

Profile picture of Sivan Kartha
Sivan Kartha

Equitable Transitions Research Director

SEI US

Eric Kemp-Benedict
Eric Kemp-Benedict

SEI Affiliated Researcher

SEI US

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SEI US