Hot Air

The Durban meeting on Climate Change has come to a rather discouraging but predictable conclusion. Canada chose to make encouraging noises while failing to offer anything of substance. In yesterday's Globe and Mail columnist Margaret Wente offers her assessment that these conferences are more about politics and power than commitment to addressing the problems. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/margaret-wente/climate-theatre-of-the-absurd/article2268504/ It's hard to argue otherwise. All that seems to be concrete is Canada's withdrawal from the Kyoto Accord. Kyoto never had much teeth in this country but now we have nothing but hot air, so to speak. I notice that while international news websites carry very little about Canada, opting out of Kyoto has garnered a lot of attention. Great --notoriety.

Here is the United Church press release on Moderator Tindal's involvement:

As the United Nations climate change conference (COP17) draws to a close in Durban, South Africa, The United Church of Canada's Moderator, Mardi Tindal, writes in her daily blog that "the longing to see more leadership than politics runs deep here..."
Tindal is attending the COP17 conference as part of an international delegation of church leaders representing the World Council of Churches.

She writes, "At a religious leaders' press conference this morning a journalist asked me about what is standing in the way of moral leadership from Canada. I said that we as Canadians must convince our minister and our other political leaders that we will follow them when they do the right things; that the political cost of giving climate change leadership is not as great as they might fear."
Tindal and fellow Canadian church leader the Rev. Willard Metzger, General Secretary of the Mennonite Church Canada, met with Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent yesterday to discuss their views on Canada's role in addressing the problem of global climate change.
She writes that there was some reassurance in yesterday's meeting. "The minister understands and accepts the science of climate change and the magnitude of the problem. He spoke of 'real urgency' and 'a disaster in the making.'" She adds, however, that she left yesterday's meeting feeling no more assured about Canada's willingness to give leadership.

"When asked about the moral and social justice frame within which Canada's position can be understood, the minister's answers were political: 'We're proud of our resources, our regulations, and our shared prosperity.' He spoke of how Canada is 'fulfilling our obligations.' There are many who have good reason to take issue with him on this point," writes Tindal.
Tindal concludes her blog by saying that there is still reason for hope and need for prayer.

"This [South Africa] is the land of miracles where leaders have risen in the confidence that when they do the right things the people will follow. South Africa did not achieve what it has with leaders who fearfully calculated political costs. It is up to us as citizens to make it clear that we will support the moral leadership for which we long." To read the full text of Tindal's blog, go to www.wondercafe.ca/blogs/moderator-mardi.
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