Silencing Scientists (NY Times Editorial)

This is a New York Times, Sunday Review, Opinion Pages, Editorial/Notebook piece by Verlyn Klinkenborg. It was published on September 21, 2013. 
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Over the last few years, the government of Canada — led by Stephen Harper — has made it harder and harder for publicly financed scientists to communicate with the public and with other scientists.

It began badly enough in 2008 when scientists working for Environment Canada, the federal agency, were told to refer all queries to departmental communications officers. Now the government is doing all it can to monitor and restrict the flow of scientific information, especially concerning research into climate change, fisheries and anything to do with the Alberta tar sands — source of the diluted bitumen that would flow through the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Journalists find themselves unable to reach government scientists; the scientists themselves have organized public protests.

Canada at Odds with US and China on Climate Change

The groundbreaking deal between the world's biggest polluters could have major implications for Canada's tar sands and by extension the Keystone XL. The planned expansion of the Alberta tar sands will triple greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 2020. James Hansen, the retired NASA climatologist said. If we build pipelines to transport the tar sands, “there is no hope of keeping carbon concentrations below 500 p.p.m. — a level that would, as earth’s history shows, leave our children a climate system that is out of their control.” As Hansen succinctly put it, exploiting the tar sands means "game over for the climate."

This expansion is largely dependent on the building of pipelines such as the Keystone XL. The Keystone is already a very controversial issue in the US. Resistance to the Keystone XL is the focus of climate activists across America and around the world. Public hearings on the pipeline open in Nebraska Thursday April 18.

The ruling Canadian Conservative government has said it is in line with other developed countries. However, the deal between the US, China, and Japan will make it very difficult for the Conservatives to continue making this claim.

National Day of Action in Canada Protesting Conservative's Assault on the Environment

On January 28th Canadians from across the country will be protesting the environmental policies of the ruling Conservative government. Last year the Harper Conservatives made countless efforts to undermine democratic protections, including two massive omnibus budget bills that gutted environmental laws, cut services and infringed on Aboriginal rights and title.

Canada's Members of Parliament are returning to Ottawa on Monday, January 28th, and people from across the country are planning a national day of action to show the government that Canadians are coming together to stand up for our democracy.

Conservative Budget Guts the Environment

Prime Minister Steven Harper's ruling Conservative government is using their majority to all but eliminate Canada's environmental protections. On March 29, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty released a federal budget which guts environmental legislation. It is tragically ironic that this anti-environment budget comes only one week after record-breaking temperatures in the National Capital Region.

Canada Officially Withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol

Although it was widely expected, one day after the conclusion of COP 17 in Durban, Stephen Harper's Conservatives formally withdrew from the world's only climate change combating global treaty. December 12,2011 will be remebered as the day Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Accord. Environment Minister Peter Kent made the announcement that Canada would be the first nation to withdraw from the Accord.

Environmental Issues in the 2011 Canadian Federal Election

In 2008, the Conservatives belittled the opposition's green initiatives, and in 2011 the Conservatives continue to have very little for the environment. Conservatives are leading in the polls, but the platforms of the opposition are far greener.

Here is an overview of the environmental platforms of the major federal parties. (As a regional party the Bloc Quebecois has not been included in this review).

Conservative Party

Despite a deplorable track record on the environment, the Conservative Party is still trying to portray itself as green. The truth is they left Canadian oceans vulnerable to oil spills, made no progress on greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and blocked progress at international climate change summits.

The Conservative Party is nonetheless trying to take credit for establishing regulations on greenhouse gases and air pollution. They have preserved some land and marine areas, while banning toxic chemicals and creating new labeling guidelines.

Liberal Party

The Liberal Party has a comprehensive plan to create clean energy jobs. If elected, Liberals will make an historic investment in clean energy and energy efficiency, quadrupling Canada's production of renewable energy. They have also indicated they would create a cap and trade system with hard caps leading to absolute reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The Liberal environmental platform includes a commitment to protect Canada'a air, oceans, waterways, forests and Arctic.

New Democratic Party

The New Democratic party rejects the claim of a fundamental contradiction between environmental health and economic growth. They advocate developing green energy industries as an opportunity for job creation as well as encouraging environmental technologies and practices, which in turn help to foster innovations in manufacturing.

New Democrats believe that reshaping energy policy for the 21st century means moving away from fossil-fuel dependence toward a green future by investing in energy derived from solar, wind, wave, and geothermal. They support working closely with Canada's provinces and territories to share clean energy and ensure energy conservation in transportation and building methods. A New Democrat government will strive to make Canada a global environmental leader. They would achieve this goal by incorporating strong environmental standards in trade agreements and ensuring that Canadian companies operating abroad will be held to standards and practices that reduce their footprint and leave local ecosystems in good health.

Green Party

The Green Party's Elizabeth May has said "I hold a vision of this blue green planet, safe and in balance. At the end of the Fossil Fuel Era, we are emerging to a new reality. We are ready to make the next leap - as momentous as abolishing slavery or giving women the vote. We are ready to make the fundamental shifts that allow us to live in balance with our life support systems, respecting each other, achieving social and economic justice, peace and democracy."

The Green Party believes in sound fiscal management and strengthening the Canadian economy while ensuring that it is sustainable. They believe that government must provide needed social services while protecting our environment and human rights.

Conclusion

Elections in Canada are usually decided on economic issues, but what many fail to realize is that environmental concerns are also vital economic issues. A government that addresses the environment is positioning canada for a vibrant economic future. A government which avoids these issues is putting Canada at an economic disadvantge that will prevent the nation from being internationally competitive. Before deciding who they vote for on May 2nd, all Canadians should consider the environmental platforms of each party.

The budget that brought down the government offers insights into Conservative priorities. While the budget contained over one billion in oil and gas subsidies, it provides only $400 million for the ecoEnergy retrofit program.

As evidenced by their last five years in office and the budget, the Conservatives and environmental stewardship are like oil and water, they do not mix well.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Environmental Platforms of Canada's Federal Parties in 2008

Here is a condensed summary of the environmental platforms of the four major Canadian political parties in 2008. The Bloc Quebecois is not included in this list due to the fact that they are a regional party that serves explicitly regional interests.

Although all four parties vowed to reduce greenhouse gases, the Conservatives use 2006 as their baseline for improvement, while the other parties use 1990 levels. This amounts to significantly lower greenhouse gas reductions for the Conservatives compared to the other three parties.

Conservative Party

The Conservative Party’s 2008 election platform was released in a policy document titled The True North Strong and Free: Stephen Harper’s Plan for Canadians. The Conservatives committed to reducing Canada’s greenhouse gases by 20 percent below 2006 levels by 2020, and cutting air pollution by 50 percent by 2015 below 2006 levels. The government claimed these targets would be achieved through government laws imposed on industries, as well as national caps for industrial emissions commonly associated with smog and acid rain.

The Conservatives environmental policies include promoting smarter energy use through the ecoEnergy Initiative; a Chemical Management Plan to regulate chemicals harmful to human health and the environment; $1.5 billion over seven years for the production of renewable fuels; a commitment to ensure that 90 percent of Canadian electricity needs are generated through non-emitting sources by 2020; and additional government funding to acquire and preserve ecologically sensitive lands.

The Conservatives indicted they would cut the federal excise tax on diesel fuel in half, from four to two cents per litre. They said they would invest $113 million into an Environmental Enforcement Action Plan over the next five years and impose stiffer penalties for the most serious environmental crimes (up to $6 million for corporations and $1 million for individuals)while increasing inspection and seizure powers with the help of a team of specialized environmental prosecutors. Their legal efforts also included the creation of environmental laws that allow courts to compel offenders to remedy any harm to the environment and a searchable database that tells the public the details of a corporation’s convictions for environmental crimes. Under the Conservative plan, corporations would be required to tell shareholders if they were convicted of environmental crimes. The Conservatives indicated that they would prohibit the exportation of bitumen to countries outside Canada that do not have equivalent emission-reduction targets and re-affirm Canada’s position that the North American Free Trade Agreement cannot require Canada to export bulk water to other NAFTA countries. A $2-billion ecoENERGY initiative promotes smarter energy use, greater use of clean energy sources, and cleaner use of traditional energy sources. Finally, conservatives vowed to protect conservation areas, including freshwater.

Liberal Party

The Liberal Party outlined its 2008 election platform in a policy document entitled Richer, Fairer, Greener: An Action Plan for the 21st Century. The Environment was one of the core planks of the platform.

The Liberals adopted the Green Shift which involved a detailed plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, 40 percent by 2035, and 60 to 80 percent by 2050. These goals were to be achieved through a progressive carbon tax system, which would place levies on carbon emissions. The Liberals were also committed to creating a national carbon trading system, enabling companies to trade emission credits in order to meet targets.

Other Liberal environmental policies included a Renewable Power Production Incentive to encourage the development and use of non-carbon-emitting energy sources; providing incentives to Canadians for green home renovations; stiffer fuel efficiency standards for automobiles; the introduction of higher water and air quality standards to reduce pollution; a Toxic Substance Reduction Strategy for safe food products; and the development of a National Ecosystem Stewardship Strategy to protect Canadian wilderness, oceans, and endangered species.

For more information on the Liberal Party’s environmental policies in 2008 go to Liberal Party of Canada: A Greener Canada (PDF)

New Democratic Party

The New Democratic Party released a document outlining its 2008 election platform. The document focuses on the environment as one of three key policy areas.

The NDP promised to cut Canadian greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. This was to be accomplished through a combination of cap and trade, mandatory vehicle emission standards, and investing in renewable energy production and consumption.

The NDP also pledged to protect Canada’s water resources by placing some restrictions on the export of bulk water, encouraging more efficient water consumption, and improving water quality through stronger regulations. The NDP further pledged to complete the National Parks System; ensure the integrity of parks and protected areas are not compromised by industrial activity or inappropriate development; improve endangered species protection; and establish an Environment Commissioner as an independent Officer of Parliament to provide oversight on the government’s environmental performance.

For more information on the NDP’s 2008 environmental policies see New Democratic Party of Canada: A Plan for the Environment that Will Really Work

Green Party

The Green party released its 2008 election platform in a document entitled Looking Forward: A Fresh Perspective on Canada’s Future. The Environment was a central policy priority of the Green Party.

The Green Party committed itself to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 30 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050; introducing a carbon tax (to be offset by cuts in personal and corporate taxes); expanding research and development of low-carbon technologies; improving energy productivity through smarter regulation of large appliances and vehicles, as well as a national program to retrofit existing buildings; and participating constructively in global negotiations concerning environmental issues.

For more information on the Green Party’s environmental policies see Green Party of Canada: Environment.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Next: Environmental Issues in the 2011 Canadian Federal Election

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Canadian Conservatives Repudiation of the Environment in 2008

In the last Canadian federal election in 2008, Liberal leader Stephane Dion put forward a comprehensive plan called Green Shift. Dion's emphasis on things like carbon taxes and carbon trading were part of the most progressive pro-environment platform in Canadian history.

Prior to the 2008 election, Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion said "The time has come to do what is right – not what is easy – for our environment and for our future." Dion called his environmental platform, the Green Shift, a bold plan that put a price on pollution and positioned Canada to be a leader in the 21st century green economy.

Dion's plan was to cut taxes on things like income, investment and innovation, while shifting the tax burden to those that generate pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and waste. Dion's plan would have encouraged energy efficiency and discouraged pollution.

At the time of the 2008 Canadian federal elections, an Angus Reid poll indicated that Canadians considered the the environment to be one of their top three priorities (after health care and the economy). The vast majority of Canadians (88%) said the environment is very important or moderately important.

Despite Canadians support for the environment, in the 2008 federal election, Conservatives were elected on a platform that forcefully rejected major green initiatives. On October 14, 2008, Canadian voters re-elected Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This election granted the Conservatives 19 more seats than they had after the last election in 2006.

The Conservative government made its attack against the Green Shift platform, a central part of its strategy. The Conservatives showed strong support for the fossil fuel industry and promoted things like the development of northern pipelines to bring fossil fuels to markets around the world. Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper quietly continued his tacit support for the environmentally destructive tar sands while calling the Green Shift "crazy" and "insane."

Although some saw the Conservative win as a repudiation of the Liberal's green platform, others attributed the victory to a successfully executed Conservative misinformation campaign.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The State of Canada's Environment

Canada was once a global leader in environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change. Although the country is often viewed as synonymous with nature, the truth is that Canada is in serious need of environmental stewardship.

According to a WWF Canadian Living Planet Report, Canadians are some of the biggest consumers of resources in the world. Canada is also one of the world's biggest energy consumers, burning the equivalent of roughly 8,300 kilograms of oil equivalent per person per year.

In Canada, both oil production and gas emissions are expected to multiply as much as four times by the year 2015. One of the single greatest sources of environmental destruction comes from the Alberta tar sands (aka the oil sands). Canada's tar sands have oil reserves of 175 billion barrels which is second only to Saudi Arabia. This has prompting the Canadian NGO Environmental Defense to call the Alberta tar sands, "the most destructive project on earth."

Extracting oil from tar sands release much more greenhouse gas (GHG) then conventional oil, making it Canada's number-one source of GHGs. Alberta's tar sands have also created massive toxic lakes that are so big they can be seen from space. More than half of Canada’s total footprint is a result of their carbon footprint, mostly due to fossil fuel use.

A study by the European Climate Change Commissioner recently found the average GHG intensity of fuel derived from tar sands to be 23 per cent higher than conventional fossil fuels. As a consequence, Europeans are considering imposing penalties or restricting the importation of oil derived from tar sands.

There was a time when Canada was an environmental leader, but under the current Conservative government, those day are long gone.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Canada's Conservative Government at Odds with the Public on Climate Change

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government have a deplorable environmental record. It is believed to be one of the factors behind the failure of Canada's bid to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Although Canada has a massive footprint, the ruling Conservatives are avoiding action on climate change. In a political strategy that would make American Republicans proud, Harper's Conservative government has managed to do nothing to reduce Canada's contribution to climate change.

Most recently, Canada's Conservatives defeated a climate change bill that had passed in the House of Commons last year. The bill called for 25% cuts in the country's CO2 emissions below 1990 levels. Conservatives in Canada's non-elected Senate killed the motion, which was backed by opposition parties, in a vote on November 14th, just 13 days before COP16, the UN climate change summit in Cancun, Mexico.

Even before the most recent climate insult, the Canadian government was the target of a great deal of criticism on the climate change front. Canada's record on the environment is so poor they were repeatedly singled out for the dubious 'Fossil of the Day' distinction during last year's COP15 climate change conference in Copenhagen.

In February 2010, the Guardian unearthed a leaked document from a Chinese think tank that condemned Canada for being "devoted to conniving" at COP15. According to The Guardian, the Chinese text says that Canada spent the conference trying, "to convince the world that its pledge of a 3% emissions reduction between 1990 and 2020 is significant, while having no intention of meeting its Kyoto protocol target of 6%."

Canada has indeed abandoned its Kyoto commitments and the CBC reported that the Conservatives have no plan to reach the 3% target (20% below 2006) that they had promised.

The government's view is at odds with Canadians. According to one poll, Canadians believe climate change poses a significantly bigger threat to the “vital interests” of the nation over the next decade than international terrorism.

While nearly half of those surveyed said climate change is a “critical threat,” only about one in four people said the same about international terrorism. A similar poll conducted in 2004 showed Canadians believed the two threats were about equal.

A more recent poll indicated that 70 percent of Canadians said they would somewhat support or strongly support government action to reduce oil subsidies in Canada, estimated to cost taxpayers about $2 billion per year.

In a separate question, 65 percent of respondents said they opposed the Harper government's strategy of waiting for the US and other nations ''to develop their plans for climate change before it implements further measures to address climate change."

A new poll confirms that the Harper government is indeed out of step with Canadians. The poll indicates that the Canadian public has far different priorities than the government when it comes to climate change.

Over 80 percent of Canadians believe the Canadian government should invest in “green jobs” and transition programs for workers and communities negatively affected by a shift off of fossil fuels.

It is ironic that in 2007 Stephen Harper called climate change, “perhaps the biggest threat to confront the future of humanity today.” As 2010 draws to a close, Canadians are indicating that they want action on climate change, yet Harper's Conservatives appear content to do nothing.

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Canada is a World Leader in GHG Emissions

Canada has the dubious distinction of being one the world's leading greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting nations.

Canada has a long history of leadership on critical environmental issues, but you would never know it if you were to take a look at the policies of the ruling Conservative party.

The Conservatives may not be leading the struggle to combat climate change but they should win an award for eschewing domestic and international opinion.

A recent analysis by Climate Action Network revealed that Canada is among the world's leading sources of GHGs. Canada is a global leader in historical emissions, absolute emissions and per capita emissions.

As the leader of the Conservatives, Harper appears oblivious to messages coming in from from all quarters. Harper has ignored messages to focus on a green economic recovery from international leaders in the UN, EU, as well as Nobel Peace Prize laureates and scientists. Most recently, as the host nation for the G20, Canada did not respond to member states repeated requests to discuss climate change.

Rather than showing the leadership required to make the necessary changes to lower GHGs, the ruling Conservatives have opted to ignore it and hope it wll go away. It won't.

Canada is a great nation, but Canada's greatness is undermined by a federal government that does not appear interested in the emerging green economy.
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Canadians Disappointed with Conservative's Lack of leadership at the Toronto G20 Summit

According to recent poll results, 78 percent of Canadians wanted Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government to use the G8 and G20 summits ''to signal that Canada wants to be a leader in the global fight against climate change.''

Two thirds of Canadians wanted the Harper government to show leadership at the G8 and G20 summits. The same number wanted to see the Conservative government announce plans to eliminate subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.

The poll also indicated that 70 percent of respondents said they would somewhat support or strongly support government action to reduce those subsidies in Canada, estimated to cost taxpayers about $2 billion per year.

The survey, was commissioned for Climate Action Network. The poll was conducted by the Gandalf Group between June 17-22. The poll surveyed 1,158 Canadians and is considered accurate within 2.88 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

In a separate question, 65 per cent of respondents said they opposed the Harper government's strategy of waiting for the U.S. and other nations ''to develop their plans for climate change before it implements further measures to address climate change.''
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