Arctic to lose all summer ice by 2100 (Dec. 2, 2002 / New Scientist)

Greenpeace looking for Kyoto on G-8 agenda (June 24, 2002 / CBC)

Critics say no extra credit for flunking Kyoto (June 24, 2002 / Calgary Sun) "Alberta is looking for a free ride on the backs of other nations before it agrees to the Kyoto accord, activist speakers at the G-6B People's Summit said yesterday...."

Bike Brigade turns up heat on Kyoto (June 23, 2002 / Calgary Herald) "By dressing as frogs, rally organizer Yori Jamin said the group is able to draw parallels between global warming and dropping a frog in a pot of cold water and slowly heating it up, creating a state of contentment while the warming water slowly kills it. 'This is what is happening to our planet and everyone seems pretty happy about it,' said Jamin, who rides his bike to work everyday...."

Two years to save the world (June 15, 2002 / New Scientist) "People will be five times as rich in a hundred years' time. And if we are willing to postpone that prosperity by just two years, we could fix global warming into the bargain. That's the startling conclusion of leading US climate scientist Stephen Schneider and Swedish energy economist Christian Azar, who are about to publish a bruising assault on the Bush administration's claims that international plans to curb climate change would cripple the US and world economies...."

Alberta cities lose Kyoto fight (June 2, 2002 / Calgary Herald) "The membership of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which represents about 1,000 cities, towns and villages from across the country, voted overwhelmingly to call for Ottawa to ratify Kyoto...".

EU Ratifies Global Warming Treaty (June 1, 2002 / AP) Japan and Norway are expected to follow suit within the next week, and Russia in the fall.

Albertans support Kyoto accord, poll says (May 31, 2002 / Globe&Mail) 72% of Albertans support Kyoto, according to the poll.

Coal industry warned of Kyoto (May 29, 2002 / Calgary Herald) Allen Wright, executive director of the Coal Association of Canada, warns of a "huge reduction" in coal use in Canada if the Kyoto protocol is approved. (We bloody well hope so!)

Children urge leaders to sign Kyoto Protocol (May 28, 2002 / Times Colonist)

Alberta lobbies provinces to get its Kyoto plan included in federal hearings (May 28, 2002 / CP) Taylor is back to his usual efforts to divide-and-conquer.

Alberta on brink of energy showdown (May 23, 2002 / Calgary Herald) Lorne Taylor, Alberta's alleged 'environment' minister, is in a snit again. "Taylor walked away as co-chairman of a meeting of federal and provincial environment and energy ministers Tuesday over Ottawa's refusal to pitch Alberta's rival scheme for cutting greenhouse gas emissions to Canadians. He said there was no way the province would draft legislation to implement Kyoto if Prime Minister Jean Chretien's government ratifies the international accord." Says Taylor: "We recognize the federal government has every right to sign international agreements but it is very clear who owns the resource. The people of Alberta own the resources of Alberta." If only they did... but in fact private corporations - many of them owned, in turn, by foreign multinationals, control the vast majority of petroleum resources in Alberta. The sad truth is that it is the corporate lobby, not the people of Alberta, that Lorne Taylor answers to.

Climate puts polar bears at risk (May 15, 2002 / Globe&Mail) "The No. 1 threat to the world's estimated 22,000 polar bears -- 60 per cent of which live in Canada -- is climate change, a World Wildlife Fund study released yesterday says."

Ottawa's intentions to pursue Kyoto ratification sends chill through oilpatch (May 15, 2002 / CP) Oil industry CEO's are squirming. "We've got to make awfully sure that the climate change plan, whatever it ends up being, maintains the competitiveness of the Canadian industry," says John Richels, president and chief executive of Devon Canada, based in Oklahoma City. "We're excited to be in Canada, we want to be in Canada" Richels intoned, while making veiled threats to take the company's money elsewhere if Canadians don't put corporate profits ahead of the environment.

Ottawa lays out climate change options, says Kyoto protocol affordable (May 15, 2002 / CP) A more detailed report in which David Anderson denies that Canada's demand for energy export credits will be used as a deal breaker. The credits are only part of one of the four options presented today by Anderson. Environmental groups are coming out with guarded praise for the plan.

Public consultations coming for Kyoto ratification (May 15, 2002 / CBC) Environment Minister David Anderson has presented four policy options for fulfulling Kyoto which will be discussed in upcoming consultations. The escape hatch - demands that Canada be credited for exporting 'clean' energy to the U.S. - remains, however.

Kyoto still open for debate: PM (May 9, 2002 / CBC) Despite having already been responsible for heavily watering down Kyoto, Chrétien continues to insist to Europeans that further loopholes be created.

Kyoto: Lost in rhetorical smog (May 8, 2002 / Globe&Mail) Kyoto may end up simply being another lesson illustrating how the business lobby subverts the will of the people and 'has its way' with the environment.

Kyoto could save Canada billions, study finds (April 23, 2002 / CBC) Tellus Institute report says the Kyoto Accord would cost about $4 billion a year, but savings would be $6.5 billion, mostly from reduced fuel costs.

PM reaffirms Ottawa's plans to ratify Kyoto (April 16, 2002 / National Post) "Reaffirms"?? That's putting it optimistically. NDP leader Alexa McDonough remarked: "That is what now parades as leadership from the government . . . There was a day when the government was saying, 'We are going to be leaders in Kyoto.' Then it became, 'By June, 2002, we are going to ratify.' Then it became 'By the end of 2002.' Today it's 'perhaps one day.' "

The long, sad legacy of Kyoto (April 16, 2002 / National Post) Here's old Terence Corcoran fuming about "hypothetical global warming". Corcoran is such a doctrinaire conservative, you really can't help but be amused. He listens to Anderson predict a future fraught with "violent weather, more intense storms, damaged eco-systems, subsiding infrastructure, eroded coasts, more drought, more pestilence, more air pollution and increased damage to human health," and then turns around and says: "he had no real economic information to provide." But as much as one might be inclined to humor this cranky old misanthrope, his continued persistence in denying "the great climate scare" as "an untested and unproved hypothesis" flaunts overwhelming evidence. He may be amusing, but he's also a menace.

Chretien backs off ratifying Kyoto (April 16, 2002 / Calgary Herald) The headline is misleading. Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal said that Canada could still ratify the accord, even if it does not win concessions on clean energy exports. "I certainly think that it's important for Canada to get credit for cleaner energy exports, but it's not make-or-break," Dhaliwal said. Dhaliwal also refuted reports that a group of senior ministers from the cabinet committee on climate change was planning to argue against ratification at today's cabinet meeting.

Will ratify Kyoto 'one day' Chrétien says (April 16, 2002 / National Post)

Dis-credited (April 16, 2002 / Calgary Herald) "Now that the Europeans have issued the all-too-predictable nix, Canada has a plausible rationale for repudiating an agreement which could cost a great deal yet promises little." Promises "little" he writes, and then this Calgary Herald editor goes on to talk about Kyoto supporters being myopic. Go figure.

Alberta works on proposal to reduce greenhouse gases through NAFTA, not Kyoto (April 15, 2002 / CP) In the name of business-as-usual and unslaked profits for his petro-bosses, Alberta Energy Minister Murray Smith is now offering a weak, regional initiative to be used as a wedge to defeat pro-Kyoto voices.

Hot air obscures Kyoto goals (April 15, 2002 / Edmonton Journal) Pro-Kyoto editorial.

Senior ministers to tell Chrétien to withdraw from Kyoto accord (April 15, 2002 / National Post) "Senior ministers are expected to urge Jean Chrétien at a Cabinet meeting tomorrow to forgo ratifying the Kyoto treaty on climate change and instead look for a made-in-Canada alternative."

Canada still pushing for green credits under Kyoto (April 15, 2002 / Globe&Mail)

'Reject Kyoto,' says minister (April 15, 2002 / Edmonton Sun) - Lorne Taylor - a man whom the Alberta government calls an 'environment minister' and as recently as last week was saying "you can't tie climate change and Kyoto" - is now leaping all over the 'clean energy credits' rhetoric, seeing in it the potential of a Kyoto 'deal breaker'.

Note: go to Banff G8 Environment Ministerial for many important Kyoto-related articles posted during April 12-14.

Kleins pursuing no-contact order (April 13, 2002 / Calgary Sun) "Premier's wife still reeling from Greenpeace stunt," begins the article. Colleen Klein's 'no contact order' would prevent those terrifying Greenpeace activists from ever knocking at her door again.

Kyoto protest angers Klein (April 12, 2002 / Globe&Mail)

No 'set timeline' on Kyoto accord, Anderson admits (April 12, 2002 / National Post) Anderson continues his retreat, while Lorne Taylor and Alberta petroleum interests nod approvingly.

Greenpeace brings Ralph Klein’s house into 21st Century (April 11, 2002 / Greenpeace)

U.S. to Take More Heat on Global Warming at G8 (April 11, 2002 / Reuters)

Anderson begins Kyoto consultations (April 2, 2002 / Financial Post) This article includes the following little gem from Lorne Taylor, Alberta's Environment Minister: "You can't tie climate change and Kyoto and that's what Mr. Anderson is trying to do -- they are separate issues." Meanwhile, a Decima Research Inc. poll shows that "78% -- including 66 % of Albertans -- wanted Canada to ratify Kyoto. Only 10 % said Canada should not ratify the treaty." Also, it should be clarified that the article is somewhat misleading: Anderson's April tour around the country is simply a series of press conferences. The public consultations regarding Kyoto ratification will come later, starting around June, 2002 (clarification comes from Clément Dugas, Communication Manager at Environment Canada).

Canada won't buckle to Kyoto pressure: Minister (March 30, 2002 / Financial Post) Petro-bagman Herb Dhaliwal continues his efforts to undermine Kyoto, citing Canadian inability to act independently because of vastly increased economic ties to the U.S. (the invisible hand of NAFTA at work again...).

Emissions trading market must be allowed to function (March 27, 2002 / Vancouver Sun) Here is Global Media engaging in more Bush-boosting. Of course, 'emissions trading' essentially means using a market system to buy polluting 'rights', thus minimizing real net reductions. This article focusses on a recent U.N. commentary suggesting that the U.S. would not be included in emissions trading, which would work to Canada's 'disadvantage' (the editorial assumes that to be environmentally responsibile is a 'disadvantage'). It then uses this logic as ammo for Kyoto-sniping. Very slick.

Ottawa sets new Kyoto approval deadline (March 23, 2002 / Financial Post) Minister of Natural Resources (i.e. - principally the exploitation thereof) Herb Dhaliwal says: "I don't believe we'll be able to do all the due diligence that's required to sign a deal in June." David Anderson's next 'deadline' is the September 'Rio+10' World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to be held in Johhannesburg.

Canada Debates Kyoto Protocol (March 16, 2002 / AP)

Canada may not ratify Kyoto climate-change agreement, Dhaliwal suggests (March 14, 2002 / CP) Says Dhaliwal: "ratification will not take place without full consultation with territories and provinces and affected industries and ordinary Canadians." This contradicts Canada's (and the provinces') original commitment to Kyoto (see March 7 article below). Dhaliwal is obviously pandering to industry, but to hedge his position he also said it's in everyone's long-term interest for the Americans to join other nations in a global approach to climate change.

Provinces endorsed Kyoto deal (March 7, 2002 / Times Colonist - Victoria) - An important legal consideration is addressed. Joan Russow and David White argue that because provinces "were not only consulted but also instrumental in advocating the ratification of the Framework Convention on Climate Change", they cannot unilaterally opt out of a federally ratified Kyoto protocol (as some media reports have suggested).

New Kyoto proposal draws fire (March 7, 2002 / National Post) "Lorne Taylor, Alberta's Minister of the Environment, said Alberta will oppose any plan that puts sectors of the economy, and particularly the Alberta-based oil-and-gas sector, at a competitive disadvantage by making them incur additional costs." A Minister of the Environment who will not lift a finger if it means cutting into petro-profits. Welcome to the world of Ralph Klein.

Critics blast bid for credit under Kyoto (March 7, 2002 / Globe&Mail) - The Liberal government continues to backslide on promises to ratify Kyoto. The Canadian governments is now lobbying other countries to offer credits for exporting so-called "clean energy" such as natural gas and hydroelectricity to the United States. The credits would effectively mean that Canada could ignore as much as 30 per cent of its Kyoto commitment, thus watering down even further the already weakened protocol.

Tiny nation's big problem sinks to bottom of agenda (March 6, 2002 / Globe&Mail) - while powerful petroleum interests fume over the prospect of reduced profits due to Kyoto, small island nations such as Tuvalu are threatened with being completely swallowed by the seas in the next 50 years because of global warming.

Winning in industry doesn't have to mean wasting the environment (March 5, 2002 / Globe&Mail) - The doom and gloom scenarios surrounding Kyoto being propagated by industry are exploded. Past experiences show that environmentally responsible policies which have been initially been the target of strenuous resistance by industry have usually resulted in positive economic fallout in the long run.

EU's support for Kyoto puts heat on Canada (March 5, 2002 / Natl. Post) - "The EU as a whole is committed to cutting emissions by 8% from 1990 levels over the period between 2008 and 2012, a target that the European Commission believes can be reached at a cost of just 0.06% of projected 2010 GDP."

Kyoto plan is 'foolish': Chamber (March 4, 2002 / Natl. Post) - Canadian Chamber of Commerce adding fuel to the fire with more overbloated statistics. At the end of the article there is a summary of various recently announced projections of economic impact that Kyoto may have in Canada.

Why Kyoto is such a hot potato (Feb. 28, 2002 / Globe&Mail) - garden-variety right-wing divide&conquer drivel from Ed Greenspon, editor at the Globe&Mail

Kyoto cost pegged at 450,000 jobs (Feb. 27 / Natl. Post) - Alternate Title: "Industry Claims Reducing Greenhouse Gases Will Cause Sky to Fall".

PM vows to ratify Kyoto accord after consulting provinces (Feb. 27, 2002 / Toronto Star)

Climate change on Victoria agenda Ministers' meeting (Feb. 25, 2002 / CP) - notice how GreenPeace spokesperson Steven Guilbeault's words are turned on their head...

Kyoto Protocol: Time to stay cool (Feb. 25, 2002 / Nat. Post) - Written by the senior vice-president of TD Bank, I think you can guess what the bias is in this full page editorial (when was the last time your advocacy group got full page editorial space in the corporate media, eh?). Some useful statistics here nonetheless - in particular, some conflicting estimates of the percentage of GDP impact which Kyoto will have.

Bid for provincial solidarity against Kyoto accord fails (Feb. 20, 2002 / Ottawa Citizen) - Ralph Klein's bid to sabotage Canada's plans to ratify Kyoto has failed... for the moment at least. Meanwhile, the European Union is expected to ratify Kyoto at Kananaskis.

Premiers ambush Chrétien on Kyoto (Feb. 16, 2002 / National Post) - Alberta Premier (and corporate bagman) Ralph Klein spearheads efforts to sabotage Canadian ratification of Kyoto

Kyoto pact will harm economy, says Anderson(Feb. 12, 2002 / National Post) - Speaking on hopes for Canada to ratify Kyoto, David Anderson estimates that "the lost economic growth would be a maximum of $500-million each year for a 10-year period, or about $5-billion cumulatively. . But he said the loss is slight in relation to our annual trillion-dollar economy." Business groups contend that the costs will be much higher as they rally under Ralph Klein to oppose the ratification of the treaty.

Canada may ratify Kyoto deal by June 1 (Feb. 7, 2002 / Globe & Mail) - Environment Minister David Anderson says he hopes that Canada will be able to ratify the Kyoto agreement limiting emissions of greenhouse gases as early as June 1. This target date is chosen to reap maximum publicity at Kananaskis, and to stave off protester criticism.