(Re)Generation: Voices for Canada | March 6, 2011

Invite your friends on facebook.

BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION –

TAKE ACTION FOR OUR FUTURE AND REGENERATE OUR DEMOCRACY

Normally, we wait for politicians to tell us who and what we should vote for. Let’s change our politics by getting together to tell our politicians what we want to vote for.

This March, Leadnow will bring generations of Canadians together to help shape and draft the Declaration for Change, a commitment to create a better future for all Canadians.

Leadnow will challenge our politicians to work together for progress on the Declaration’s goals, and call on people to commit to take action and vote for the politicians who will rise to the challenge. We can transform Canadian politics by backing a call for cooperation on the major challenges facing this country with our commitment to vote.

ABOUT (RE)GENERATION – VOICES FOR CANADA

(Re)Generation: Voices for Canada, is a cross-country event where people like you will answer a few key questions in local get-togethers to shape the Declaration for Change.

The Climate and Sustainability Advocacy Project (McGill) will be hosting a local get-together at 4433 ave. de l’Esplande at 6pm on Sunday, March 6th. Come over for some tea, coffee, and meaningful discussion about how we can transform Canadian politics to reflect our national priorities!

If you would like more information, please contact Amara Possian at a.possian@gmail.com.

WHY ACT NOW?

Our federal government is divisive, unrepresentative and has failed to address the major challenges that face our country. At this pivotal moment in Canadian history we can break the deadlock and regenerate our democracy by calling for our politicians to cooperate on the issues that Canadians care about, and backing up our call with a commitment to take action and vote. With a possible election around the corner the time to act is now.

ABOUT LEADNOW

Leadnow is an independent group that brings Canadians together to take action for our future and hold politicians accountable.

Web – www.leadnow.ca
Twitter – @leadnowca
Facebook – facebook.com/leadnowcanada

Over the past four years, concerned and motivated youth have come together to strategize and build their skills at Power Shift summits in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada. More information on the history of Power Shift, can be found on right here.

From April 15 – 18 2011, over 10,000 young leaders will converge on Washington, DC for Power Shift 2011. The youth climate movement is coming together to strategize, to learn and train one-another on campaign and tactics, and to take bold action to create a clean energy economy.

The Climate and Sustainability Advocacy Project will be sending a McGill delegation to participate in the conference. In order to apply, please submit your responses to the following questions:

1. Why are you interested in participating in Power Shift 2011?

2. How will your participation in Power Shift 2011 contribute to the McGill community?

Applications are due to casamcgillproject@gmail.com by February 20, 2011.

CASA was approved as a SSMU interim status club in the Fall, and now we’re formalizing our Coordination Team! If you are interested in any of the positions below (or just have questions about the roles) please email us at casamcgillproject@gmail.com by February 1st. Please include a short explanation of why you are interested and what skills or experience you can bring to the team.  Positions will be chosen for the rest of the term only, but everyone who applies now will be able to run again when we hold elections for next year in March!

Here are the positions and responsibilities, as outlined in our Constitution.

5.1 The Chair shall:

• Be the be the public spokesperson of the Club, unless the CT selects another member to speak on behalf of the Club.
• Coordinate and ensure an effective facilitator for all meetings.
• Ensure the smooth running of the Club as a whole through facilitation of, and mediation with, the various CT portfolios with a vision that is consistent with the Club mandate.
• Co-sign all financial transactions with the Finance Coordinator.
• Be responsible for booking and arranging meeting rooms, organizing and obtaining refreshments, and drafting agendas for general meetings.

5.2. The Communications Coordinator shall:

• Take minutes at meetings, and ensure proper distribution of all minutes.
• Be responsible for communication within the CT and with the Students’ Society of McGill University.
• Maintain the membership list of the club.
• Maintain listserv, website and social media content.

5.3  The Outreach Coordinator shall:

Thursday, January 27th, 4:30pm
Clubs Lounge, 4th floor, SSMU (3480 rue McTavish)

The COP16 United Nations climate negotiations wrapped up in Cancun, Mexico in December. After the failure of the COP15 negotiations in Copenhagen, expectations were low, but some see Cancun as a surprising success.

Did Cancun produce truly measurable progress or just a satisfaction from low expectations?

Why did Bolivia try to block the summit’s agreement, and what does this mean for consensus at the UN?

Why did Canada once again win the “Fossil of the Year” award for being the nation who does the most to detract from progress at the talks?

Just want to learn more about the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change?

Come along to hear about this year’s summit outcomes and the challenges remaining for next year’s summit in Durban, South Africa. Three McGill students who attended as part of the Canadian Youth Delegation will share their thoughts and experiences.

Invite your friends on Facebook.

 

Maggie Knight

Sitting in the plenary into the wee hours of this morning was both enlivening and deeply conflicting. Hearing nation after nation praise the Mexican government’s transparency and inclusivity and to feel a great sense of excitement in the room that the UNFCCC process could be back on track contrasted sharply with the complete dismissal of Bolivia’s numerous and vociferous objections. The close of these talks in Cancun raises huge questions about what it means to operate under consensus. The adopted texts are, as many delegations agreed, far from perfect, and have no binding agreements; thegigatonne gap remains between the current pledges from the Copenhagen Accord and what science tells us we must do to avoid the devastating impacts of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming. Nevertheless, this is a tremendous step in getting most nations back to the negotiating table in a spirit of trust and cooperation. It speaks to the deeply divisive and destructive nature of last year’s Copenhagen talks that this sort of weak deal comes with a sense of massive relief.

Ultimately, the success or failure of these negotiations in Cancun will be shown by what the United Nations can achieve by the close of next year’s COP17 talks in Durban, South Africa. If Cancun fosters the political will for nations to come to the table with ambitious, science-based, and legally-binding commitments before and in Durban, it will be a point on the side of success. Durban must also address the major outstanding issues of safeguards for indigenous peoples and frontline communities as well as significant loopholes within various carbon accounting schemes and carbon markets. If, however, the slight progress in Cancun becomes an excuse to lapse back into complacency, or if the South African presidency is not able to continue the transparency demonstrated by the Mexicans, or if we ultimately get another weak, non-binding deal again in Durban, then Cancun will be proved useless. If the UNFCCC is not able to better engage Bolivia and any other nations who emerge to block consensus, faith in the UN process could disintegrate despite the progress of 193 nations in reaching agreement here in Cancun. Incremental progress that necessitates the sacrifice of principle is only conscionable if it succeeds in leading us where we urgently need to go.

So where do we go from here? As a Canadian, I know we have our work cut out for us. Any success in Cancun is despite Canada, not because of us. We can take cold comfort in the fact that, ultimately, we were irrelevant instead of detrimental. Japan backed down on blocking progress under the Kyoto Protocol and Canada sat silently on its hands. Canada blustered and criticized, contributed nothing to improved international cooperation. We brought nothing new to the table and were ultimately awarded theColossal Fossil once again. If we want to be considered relevant on the international stage, we need to ramp up our action on climate change at home. We need to increase the ambition of our emissions reduction target, develop a strong and equitable plan for its implementation, and transparently carry it through with rigorous reporting. We need tore-establish our commitment to taking action rooted in our historical responsibility for climate change.

We need a government that is willing to engage all stakeholders in a transparent process to justly confront this tremendous challenge, rather than a government that covertly lobbies on behalf of industry that prevents a progressive approach. We need our negotiators to be able to honestly tell us about constructive actions that we are taking. We need not to have to apologize over and over that our government is not representing the will of Canadians.

Amara Possian

It’s almost 6:30am and I just got back to our hostel. I wanted to get this out before talking to other people and before any sort of media influence crept into my head because I think something big just happened and I’m not sure what implications it will have for the future.

[Note: Please excuse anything incoherent. I have been awake for over 24 hours.]

What stands out to me as most important is that over the past two weeks, we successfully fostered a spirit of trust and hope. And that is exactly what the UNFCCC process needed. Copenhagen was an enormous mess that shattered trust between developed and developing countries. Last year, a series of backroom deals between a small group of parties led to a surprise accord with voluntary targets that were far too low. Tonight, almost every single speaker thanked COP President Espinosa and the Mexican Government for their transparency, cooperation and openness throughout the conference. On behalf of the Least Developed Countries, the representative from Lesotho said, “we have missed the kind of atmosphere that reigns in this hall today… we thank you Mme. Chair.”

We got a weak deal but we have laid a foundation for COP-17. We did not make much progress but we have ensured a lifeline for the process. We have put things back on track. In their statements tonight, several countries acknowledged the spirit of compromise that formed the foundation of these particular negotiations. The negotiator from the Maldives reminded us that “it’s a negotiation and therefore we don’t get everything we want.” There is far more work to be done but within the “Cancun Agreements,” which were referred to as “a new era in international cooperation on climate change,” important (but weak, limited, and non-binding) decisions were made on the establishment of a climate fund, on technology transfer and on REDD. The Kyoto Protocol wasn’t killed but there was no agreement on a second commitment period and there was no set date for a peak in global emissions.

Canada wasn’t a detrimental and obstructive force. Today. Victory? Not so much. But good for Canada for taking a back seat and not actively obstructing negotiations for once… our country is in a sad state of affairs when that is something to celebrate. Canada likely remained silent due in part to pressure from civil society and due in part to its desire to maintain positive trade relations with Mexico. I’ll leave it at this: given our lack of any climate legislation back home, and our lack of leadership in these negotiations, it’s clear we need to get to work domestically if we don’t want another shameful performance in Durban, South Africa next year. [Update: while Canada did not obstruct the process, the Minister of Environment stated that Canada is not planning on following its commitments under Kyoto.]

And this is where it gets interesting. President Espinosa redefined consensus.Bolivia spoke out against and rejected the Long Term Cooperative Action text and the Kyoto Protocol text this evening – on Thursday, Bolivia had proposed a far more ambitious LCA text that wasn’t considered. Bolivia was rejecting the negotiating texts because they strayed too far from Kyoto, were not ambitious enough in emissions reductions, and were not in line with the People’s Agreement of Cochabamba. And while the chair noted the objections and Bolivia stated several times that there was no consensus for the approval of the decisions, both texts were adopted. President Espinosa refused to disregard the will of 193 parties: “the rule of consensus does not mean unanimity. Far less does it mean that one nation can apply a veto.” There have been instances in the past where countries have blocked on an issue but we’re not entirely sure if a party’s explicit and huge objection has ever been overruled to that extent. What does this mean? I’m not entirely sure but once I get some sleep, I’ll expand on the fuzzy ideas in my head – how this could exacerbate divides in the climate movement, how this may set a new precedent in UNFCCC negotiations, how it angers me that the international community isn’t ambitious enough to adopt Bolivia’s ideas.

Ok, time for bed. Have a great morning!

 

Amara Possian

I’ve been running around all day and realize I have left those of you looking for updates on the negotiations in the dark. I’d like to share today’s (really awesome) liveblog from Tck tck tck’s Adopt a Negotiator Project so you can see what you’ve missed to date. Check out information on everything from new negotiating texts to actions right here.

We spent the majority of the day waiting for the open negotiations to begin and the informal stocktaking plenary has just started. So far most countries have seemed generally supportive of the negotiating texts and some have asked to go back to their working groups to work out a few issues. Bolivia spoke out strongly against the texts, especially against the fact that a second commitment period of Kyoto is not guaranteed, against the lack of ambition in emissions reductions targets, and the inclusion of market-based mechanism from mitigation.

When the internet permits, I will be live tweeting the plenary here.

Amara Possian

This morning, CYD took down our booth in Cancunmesse and set up a strategic home base under an escalator near a power outlet in Moon Palace, where the negotiations are taking place. We’re in constant communication with the other half of the delegation at the hostel and our home team back in Canada and it looks like today is going to involve lots of sneaky info tracking. [If you have tips, you can find me under this escalator or send me an email at a.possian@gmail.com].

It’s crunch time, the COP plenary started a few hours late then decided to reconvene at 3pm, and almost every meeting on the Daily Programme has “to be announced” beside the time, and in some cases, beside the location. Negotiations ran until 6am last night and while there are several new negotiating texts – on the Kyoto Protocol, on Long-Term Cooperative Action, on LULUCF – they are not yet public. Several countries created a compromise text last night which just went out to negotiators (not us!) so the United States just canceled its press conference. The UNFCCC secretariat just canceled its press conference. And Ecuador is up in arms because a small group of states is meeting behind closed doors.

Here are a few things we are currently paying particular attention to:

Japan and the Kyoto Protocol Japan and Russia are currently blocking a second commitment period on the Kyoto Protocol and Canada is hiding behind them. There’s a good sense that if we move Japan away from obstructing Kyoto, Russia and Canada may follow suit because Russia doesn’t want to obstruct Kyoto alone and Canada is worried about NAFTA and relations with Mexico. Last night, Ban Ki-moon called the Japanese Prime Minister to ask him to support Kyoto. We’ve also put out a call to action for Canadians to call the Japanese embassy and the Canadian government to continue the pressure.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Last night, the Minister of Ecuador said countries were close to a definitive agreement and ministers were given options for safeguards and financing. This morning, there has been talk of increased REDD financing and we are interested to find out more about financing mechanisms, monitoring safeguards, and the inclusion of principles from the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into REDD.

Long-term global emissions reduction target: 1.5 °C vs. 2 °C The Copenhagen Accord, which some countries have been trying to push into the negotiating text, calls for limiting the rise in global temperatures to 2C. This week, small island states (with the support of 100+ countries) succeeded at getting a 1.5C goal back into the text and we’re waiting to see which target is included in the final text… haven’t heard anything yet.

So where does that leave us? The Long-term Cooperative Action and Kyoto Protocol texts both need to be passed in plenary, but when that plenary will begin is still very, very up in the air. We are still waiting to hear on Financing, Adaptation, LULUCF accounting rules, any progress on the AAU “hot air” surplus, and on the process to get a binding decision at COP17.

At the moment, several countries are blocking progress. We are hoping the United States will compromise on technology transfer – at 6am, after hours of negotiations and a clean text, the United States drew a red line and walked away on technology. We are hoping China, Brazil, and South Africa will take steps forward on measuring, reporting, and verifying. We are hoping Japan moves on Kyoto and Canada follows suit. And we’re hoping the shared vision text that comes out soon has strong, meaningful targets.

We will post an update when we get a copy of the current negotiating text.

URGENT : Dites au gouvernement canadien de ne pas bloquer les négociations sur Kyoto à la CdP16! -mais votre pression est fructueuse! La Délégation canadienne semble maintenir sa position pour le moment. Nous croyons fortement que si nous pouvons influencer le Japon hors de sa position néfaste sur le Protocole de Kyoto, le Canada suivra. C’est pourquoi nous vous demandons d’appeler le Bureau du Premier Ministre du Canada et l’Ambassade du Japon à Ottawa.

Appelez MAINTENANT pour dire à l’Ambassade japonaise de cesser d’obstruer les négociations.
Ambassade Japonaise:613-241-8541
Courriel: infocul@embjapan.ca
Envoyez un message au gouvernement japonais:https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html

Appelez MAINTENANT pour dire au Canada d’arrêter de supporter l’obstruction du Japon
Bureau du Premier ministre : (613) 992-4211
Sans frais (demandez à ce que votre appel soit transféré au bureau du Premier ministre) : 1 (866) 599-4999

La Situation:
Le Canada a été vu comme un obstacle majeur aux négociations en s’opposant au processus entourant le Protocole de Kyoto. Même si les engagements présents sous Kyoto sont loin d’être une réponse adéquate aux changements climatiques, ils constituent présentement le seul cadre légal que nous détenons au niveau international. Si les pays développés tel que le Canada et le Japon bloquent le processus du Protocole de Kyoto, les pays en voie de développement risquent de se retirer des négociations. Si Kyoto est maintenu, il n’y a aucune raison pour laquelle les pays en voie de développement et les États-Unis ne pourraient pas prendre des engagements. Par contre, sans Kyoto, la totalité du processus de négociations risque de dérailler : nous perdrions plus de dix ans de travail acharné et n’aurions aucun plan pour mettre en place un accord juridiquement contraignant. De plus, nous approchons rapidement le moment où nous devrions, selon les scientifiques du GIEC, stopper la croissance des émissions. Nous n’avons simplement pas le temps de recommencer à zéro.

Le Canada prétend que les pays en voie de développement ne se retireront pas des pourparlers parce qu’ils ont trop à perdre. En fait, le Canada affirme que les pays développés peuvent utiliser leur support, comme du transfert de technologies et du financement pour l’adaptation, comme prétexte pour démolir tout le processus des négociations. Hier, le ministère de l’environnement John Baird a rejeté le principe central de la responsabilité historique pour les changements climatiques des pays développés en le qualifiant de « problème auxiliaire.» Le Canada refuse ainsi toute responsabilité pour sa contribution aux changements climatiques.

À travers les négociations, le Japon a menacé de bloquer le processus de Kyoto. Nous savons maintenant que le Japon, appuyé par le Canada ,est un des plus grand obstacle au progrès en ces heures finales.Le Gouvernement japonais commence à sentir la pression internationale, mais nous devons l’amplifier. Il faut que le Japon sache qu’ils sont observés de près et que notre gouvernement comprenne qu’en supportant le Japon ils agissent directement à l’encontre du vouloir des Canadiens!

Appelez MAINTENANT:
Ambassade Japonaise:613-241-8541
Courriel: infocul@embjapan.ca
Envoyez un message au gouvernement japonais:https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html
Bureau du Premier ministre : (613) 992-4211
Sans frais (demandez à ce que votre appel soit transféré au bureau du Premier ministre) : 1 (866) 599-4999

Plus d’information:

Brief on the role of Kyoto in Cancun prepared by CYD members earlier this week:
http://canadianyouthdelegation.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/cyd-statement-on-the-role-of-kyoto-in-cancun/
Des leaders politiques et des groupes de la société civile canadienne demandent au Canada d’appuyer la poursuite du protocole de Kyoto
(Communiqué de presse du Réseau action climat Canada et d’Équiterre):http://www.equiterre.org/communique/des-leaders-politiques-et-des-groupes-de-la-societe-civile-canadienne-demandent-au-canada
Vidéo de la conférence de presse d’hier matin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFbxL2lKF-g
Appel de la Jeunesse pour l’engagement du Canada (Communiqué de presse de la délégation de la jeunesse canadienne):http://canadianyouthdelegation.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/communique-de-presses.pdf
Summary of what we’ve heard about Canada’s stance on Kyoto from our negotiators:
http://canadianyouthdelegation.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/roadmap-of-deflection-reconstructing-the-canadian-delegation%E2%80%99s-talking-points-part-one/

Dans l’actualité:

M. Harper, l’heure des choix est venue
http://www.journalmetro.com/mavie/article/716229–m-harper-l-heure-des-choix-est-venue

Conférence sur les changements climatiques – Le ministre Baird lance
des fleurs aux provinces
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/environnement/2010/12/09/001-cancun-baird-provinces.shtml

Ottawa n’a pas de stratégie pour les changements climatiques, déplore un rapport
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/environnement/201012/07/01-4350122-ottawa-na-pas-de-strategie-pour-les-changements-climatiques-deplore-un-rapport.php

Bloquistes et libéraux offusqués par les agissements d’Ottawa à Cancun
http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/environnement/2010/12/04/001-canada-cancun-kyoto.shtml

« Le Canada veut enterrer le protocole de Kyoto », dénonce le Bloc québécois
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/environnement/201012/04/01-4349250-le-canada-veut-enterrer-le-protocole-de-kyoto-denonce-le-bloc-quebecois.php

Bernard Bigras à Cancunhttp://www.journalderosemont.com/Actualites/Politique/2010-12-10/article-2032122/Bernard-Bigras-a-Cancun/1

Le futur accord climat se fera-t-il au prix du Protocole Kyoto?http://www.mediaterre.org/international/actu,20101210165345.html

 

Please post widely! And invite everyone you know on Facebook

Action Alert: Tell Canada and Japan to Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way!

BREAKING: Canada was poised to be a major obstacle to negotiations by standing against the Kyoto Protocol process–but your pressure is paying off!The Canadian delegation appears to be holding its fire on Kyoto for the time being.  There is a real sense that if we can move Japan off its obstructive position on the Kyoto Protocol that Canada will follow suit. We’re asking you to do two things: call the Prime Minister’s Office and call the Japanese Embassy in Ottawa. 

Call NOW to tell the Japanese Embassy to get out of the way:
Japanese Embassy: 613-241-8541
General email: infocul@embjapan.ca
Post your message to the Japanese government:https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html

Call NOW to tell Canada to stop supporting Japan’s obstruction!
Prime Minister’s Office: (613) 992-4211
Toll Free (ask to be put through to the Prime Minister’s Office): 1 (866) 599-4999

THE SITUATION:
While current commitments under Kyoto are nowhere near an adequate response to climate change, it is currently the only legal framework we have for a global deal. If developed nations like Canada and Japan block the Kyoto Protocol process, developing nations may walk away from the negotiations. If Kyoto continues, there is no reason that developing nations and the USA cannot also take on commitments. But without Kyoto, the entire negotiating process may be derailed: we’ll lose over ten years of hard work and will have no framework to create a legally binding deal. We’re fast approaching the time that science says we need to peak our emissions—we simply don’t have time to start from scratch.

Canada says that developing nations will not walk away from the talks because they have too much to lose—essentially saying that developed nations can hold support, such as technology transfer and adaptation financing, hostage while eroding the entire negotiating process. Yesterday, Environment Minister John Baird dismissed the central principle of developed nations’ historical responsibility for causing climate change as a “sidecar” issue. Canada is refusing to take responsibility for its contribution to climate change.

Throughout the negotiations, Japan has threatened to block the Kyoto process. We know that Japan, with Canada standing behind it, is one of the biggest obstacles to progress in these final hours. The Japanese Government is feeling the international heat, but we need to turn it up. We need Japan to know the world is watching, and we need our government to know that by standing behind Japan they are acting directly against the desires of Canadians!

Call NOW:
Japanese Embassy: 613-241-8541
General email: infocul@embjapan.ca
Post your message to the Japanese government:https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html
Prime Minister’s Office: (613) 992-4211
Toll Free (ask to be put through to the Prime Minister’s Office): 1 (866) 599-4999

MORE INFORMATION:

Brief on the role of Kyoto in Cancun prepared by CYD members earlier this week:
http://canadianyouthdelegation.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/cyd-statement-on-the-role-of-kyoto-in-cancun/
Political Representatives and Civil Society Groups Demand Canada Support Kyoto Continuation at Cancun Climate Talks (Climate Action Network Canada press release):http://canadianyouthdelegation.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/political-representatives-and-civil-society-groups-demand-canada-support-kyoto-continuation-at-cancun-climate-talks/
Video from yesterday’s press conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFbxL2lKF-g
Youth Call for Canadian Commitment (Canadian Youth Delegation press release):http://canadianyouthdelegation.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/call-for-commitment.pdf
Summary of what we’ve heard about Canada’s stance on Kyoto from our negotiators:
http://canadianyouthdelegation.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/roadmap-of-deflection-reconstructing-the-canadian-delegation%E2%80%99s-talking-points-part-one/

IN THE NEWS:

The Guardian “Cancún climate change conference: Russia will not renew Kyoto protocol”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/10/cancun-climate-change-conference-kyoto
The Globe and mail “Canada urges leaders to sidestep Kyoto and engage U.S. on climate”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-urges-leaders-to-sidestep-kyoto-and-engage-us-on-climate/article1832783/
The Globe and mail  ”Canada pressured to soften Kyoto stand “
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-pressured-to-soften-kyoto-stand/article1831219/
BBC “UN climate deal hopes in Mexico look bleak”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11961378
The Huffington Post “Hostage Crisis at Cancun Climate Talks”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-henn/hostage-crisis-at-cancun_b_795032.html
The Globe and mail “Kyoto impasse could torpedo climate talks, U.S. warns”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/kyoto-impasse-could-torpedo-climate-talks-us-warns/article1829183/
Canada gets ready to walk away from the Kyoto Protocolhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-gets-ready-to-walk-away-from-kyoto-protocol/article1825976/