Canada Expects to Sell George W. Bush's Climate Plan to President Obama

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Jim Prentice, Canadaโ€™s Environment Minister, lands in the US capital today as part of the Conservative governmentโ€™s attempt to ride on Obamaโ€™s green coattails on climateย change.

But he wonโ€™t get too far with the George W. Bush playbook on climate change heโ€™ll be trying to sell the Obamaย administration.

The problem for Canada and the Harper government is that President Obama is actually planning to do something significant about the issue of climate change, while Canadaโ€™s Conservatives continue to spend their time trying to spin a plan that will see their countryโ€™s emissions continue toย rise.

The Globe and Mail rightly points out this morning that during Obamaโ€™s visit to Canada two weeksย ago:

โ€œThe President gave no indication during his trip to Canada that he was enthusiastic about Prime Minister Stephen Harperโ€™s idea for a bilateral agreement on climateย change.โ€

No kidding. Obama and his team see right through Canadaโ€™s weak, ineffectual plan. After all itโ€™s pretty much the plan set out by former President George W.ย Bush.

But for those in Washington who arenโ€™t savvy to the Canadian plan, hereโ€™s a quick rundown of the Conservative governmentโ€™s โ€œspin-tionaryโ€ on climateย change:


What theyย say:

The Canadian government says its committed to an absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 20% byย 2020.

Realityย check:

The Canadian government uses 2006 levels as the benchmark for reductions, instead of 1990 which is the internationally recognized benchmark for greenhouse gas emission reductions – and the one used by the vast majority of other countries. When you move the Conservativeโ€™s numbers back to 1990 levels, there is a rise in emissions of around 2% byย 2020.


What theyย say:

The Canadian government promises an absolute reduction in greenhouseย gas.

Realityย check:

The Canadian government actually plans to measure greenhouse gas emission reductions through โ€œcarbon intensityโ€ targets. This means that reductions are measured by the decrease in theย  amount of greenhouse gas that is emitted per unit of energy – a standard that still allows total emissions to increase. For example, Suncor Energy, one of the largest companies in the Alberta oil sands, once announced that it had reduced its carbon intensity by 51 per cent between 1990 and 2006. However, thanks to huge increases in production – the companyโ€™s absolute emissions increased by 131 per cent over the sameย period.


These are the two very big fundamental differences between Canadaโ€™s plan and the plan being proposed by President Obama who has committed to reducing absolute US greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2020, based on 1990 levels. No PR spin or fancy tricks on the ledger for Obama, just a straightenย commitment.

While many are arguing that Obamaโ€™s plan does not go far enough, his honesty is refreshing after years of baffle gab and delay from the former White Houseย administration.

Good luck in Washington this week Minister Prentice, youโ€™re going to need it if you plan on sticking George W. Bushโ€™s greenhouse gas inaction plan under the noses of this newย administration.


This month weโ€™re giving away FREE copies Keith Farnishโ€™s new book Times Up: an uncivilzed solution to a globalย crisis.

Go here to find out more details about DeSmogBlogโ€™s monthly bookย give-away.

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Kevin is a contributor and strategic adviser to DeSmog. He runs the digital marketing agency Spake Media House. Named a โ€œGreen Heroโ€ by Rolling Stone Magazine and one of the โ€œTop 50 Tweetersโ€ on climate change and environment issues, Kevin has appeared in major news media outlets around the world for his work on digital campaigning. Kevin has been involved in the public policy arena in both the United States and Canada for more than a decade. For five years he was the managing editor of DeSmogBlog.com. In this role, Kevinโ€™s research into the โ€œclimate denial industryโ€ and the right-wing think tank networks was featured in news media articles around the world. He is most well known for his ground-breaking research into David and Charles Kochโ€™s massive financial investments in the Republican and tea partyย networks. Kevin is the first person to be designated a โ€œCertified Expertโ€ on theย political and community organizing platformย NationBuilder. Prior to DeSmog, Kevin worked in various political and government roles. He was Senior Advisor to the Minister of State for Multiculturalism and a Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Asia Pacific, Foreign Affairs for the Government of Canada. Kevin also worked in various roles in the British Columbia provincial government in the Office of the Premier and the Ministry of Health. In 2008 Kevin co-founded a groundbreaking new online election tool called Vote for Environment which was later nominated for a World Summit Award in recognition of the worldโ€™s best e-Content and innovative ICTย applications. Kevin moved to Washington, DC in 2010 where he worked for two years as the Director of Online Strategy for Greenpeace USA and has since returned to his hometown of Vancouver, Canada.

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