Editor:
I submit that Canadians need to stop looking at our map and thinking "what a big beautiful country we have, we must be important."
Well we do have a big beautiful country and it is largely empty. By population numbers and by economic activity we are a squitty little country of little significance.
The latest authoritative figures I have seen show that Canada's contribution to global warming is 1.6 per cent of the total.
Despite the protestations of some political parties, there is nothing that Canada can do to alter global warming, because our contribution is so minimal to start with.
Our economic activity is less than half that of each, France, Germany, U.K. and California. Only one tenth the activity of the whole United States.
Until the U.S. decides to do something meaningful and because we have to compete with the U.S., we should stop handicapping our industry with fake carbon tax. Which, incidentally, increases the price of all consumer goods.
The U.S. seems to be content on a do nothing policy. Think that is difficult to get Americans to give up guns? Try getting them to give up their cars.
No, I am not recommending a do nothing policy, but investment in, and becoming leaders in, technology to mitigate CO2 emissions and sequester carbon seems to be our contribution at this time.
Our economy is bonded to that of the U.S., so politically we should undertake to move "in lock step" with whatever the U.S. decides to do when they wake up.
Unfortunately, my belief is that the western democracies do not have the public will to do anything meaningful.
For example France's recent attempt to price carbon met with immediate riots in the streets.
Possibly the authoritarian regimes in China and Russia might achieve some progress, but Russia is rubbing its hands with glee at the prospect of a warmer arctic and is planning extensive development there – to exploit oil and gas.
No, I fear that we will all keep doing what we are doing and march, lemming like, over the cliff. Gret Thunberg is right, It will not affect me, but her generation will be the ones to take the fall.
Colin Whewell,
Canmore
