Yesterday morning I hopped on a shuttle that took me away from downtown Durban. Outside the gated, policed, and polished conference center I finally saw Africa. The streets were alive with people, Toyotas, curio shops, and street vendors. I took a deep breath--relieved to be away from the security and formality of the negotiations. Hustle and bustle along my route eventually turned into quite neighborhoods. Before long the shuttle rounded a red-dirt corner and dropped me off at a middle school. Here I joined folks from UNICEF and thirty-some students, bright eyed and energetic—despite the fact that this is their summer break here in South Africa.
On this balmy day, the students sang, laughed, squealed, and spoke eloquently about climate change. We held a mini-COP where the kids imagined themselves as negotiators from one of eight countries and then reported their perspectives to other nations in attendance. I had the honor of guiding the China delegation. “Ms. Chow” and “Mr. Yung” reported the China’s perspective back to the class. They spoke highly of China’s large population and able workforce. Because of these characteristics, the students declared that China faces the greatest risks from climate change yet also and the greatest opportunity to influence other developing countries toward mitigation. However, the representatives noted that they also are concerned about China’s economic competitiveness and therefore are hesitant to commit to Kyoto.
China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world and often is painted as the big bad nation in the global climate change debate. Yet when the students decided to issue an award for the “Worst Nation” in the COP, China hardly garnered consideration. Instead, with much negative fanfare, many boos and grimaces, the Canada group was bestowed the “Worst Nation” award.
If this award had been granted two days before, the results would have been much different. It was only yesterday that I picked up the off-beat gratuit edition of "eco" the daily publication covering the goings on at the conference. I happened upon a French edition that lead with the headline: "*?)!#* de Canada!" I don't think I have to translate that...
Why all the fuss over the seemingly benign neighbor to the north?
For many Americans, it would come as a surprise that Canada would win such an award from South African school children and such explicative language from a French newsletter. For all its natural wonders, it would seem that Canada would be one of the more proactive nations on the subject of climate change. However, Canada is also home to one of the largest land moving operations in the world--excavation of oil from the Alberta tar sands.
I won’t go too far into it because I know that many of you are quite familiar. But for those of you who are not, the Alberta tar sands is a controversy worth exploring. If Canada follows through with plans to fully exploit the tar sands, an area the size of Florida would be strip-mined. By expending untold amounts of water, oil is separated from the mined sands. To say that the process is energy intensive would be an understatement. The fact that the tar sands is even a profitable endeavor is evidence enough that the days of easy oil extraction are seeing in their last rays of sunlight. Not to mention environmental justice concerns it brings up for indigenous folks living in the region...
Canada’s fresh zeal for oil extraction and exportation has led to a number of controversies in the United States. Folks in Missoula will recall the All Against the Haul Campaign that was successful in preventing the transport of oil infrastructure on scenic and windy roads through Montana to Canada. (Check out pics of a similar protest last year). Now Canada’s tar sands is gaining national attention for dividing labor groups and pitting some of them against against an oddly united camp: environmentalists and private landowners with the Keystone XL pipeline. Thankfully, follow-through on this shortsighted project has been delayed pending further environmental review by President Obama. However, just yesterday, 37 Republicans introduced a bill that would force immediate approval of the pipeline.
All the emphasis on extraction has made it difficult for Canada to comply with the Kyoto Protocol’s carbon reduction standards and thus critical of Kyoto. Undoubtably, it has also influenced Canada's decision to announce that it would consider withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol before the carbon targets expire next year. Announced early in the conference, Canada's uncertain commitment has even drawn criticism from China and thrown negotiations into an even more uncertain state.
So where does this leave us and what can we do? Well first thing is to write your Representatives and tell them to support the midwestern Republican opposition to the Keystone XL pipleline. (Yes, that is to support the midwestern Republicans--these are the folks motivated by fears of drinking water contamination and infringement of landowner rights. Of course you can also support the liberal opposition as well). Stopping the pipeline would send a strong message to Canada that the U.S. is skeptical of their efforts to pursue extraction over more responsible energy development. To go for extra credit, support indigenous efforts to fight threats to their drinking water and infringement of their cultural rights. Sign up to organize and take additional action to fight the tar sands as opportunities arise.
Tips on talking about climate change
This morning after the other UNICEF volunteers and I wrapped up our mini-COP with the students, we decided to leave the students with a few tools to help them really make a difference. We talked to them about strategies to discuss climate change with their friends and families. Although conversations may seem feeble in the context of a global problem like climate change; genuine feelings, concerns, and aspirations communicated through words consititute the yarn that weaves together a social movement. Even if your audience remains unconvinced at the end of the conversation, consider it one of many threads--at least the issue has garnered the person's attention. Be open, passionate, understanding, honest, and unforced. Talk about personal experiences and what matters to you. Conversations on issues like the heavy haul, Keystone XL, and climate change that are multiplied over the long-term inspire the popular support that can pressure a national and international movement.