Concerned about cost of Kyoto

By Peter Menzies Copyright 1998 Calgary Herald December 14, 1998

DEAR DIARY: The environment minister came calling this week with the news that one year after signing it, she still has no idea what the economic impact of the Kyoto Treaty on Global Warming will be in Canada.

"We don't know the cost," Christine Stewart said.

Oh good, I thought. The federal government is flitting about the world, signing treaties which provide -- as the minister conceded -- for more "equity" in the world's economy and hasn't the foggiest idea how much it will cost. She did point out that some people think it will cost Canada a two- to three-per-cent decline in its GDP growth over 20 years but, oh heck, what's a loss of $ 100 billion dollars between friends if it's going to help those nice Indonesians?

We do know, though, that because Kyoto doesn't place the same restrictions on our many despotic friends in the Third World, it will help people like the Chinese to leap-frog their economy into the modern era. Well, if it's good for the Commies, I say, why not? I mean, what harm have they ever done?

But Stewart says that leaders in emerging economies are deeply concerned about the environment.

"If you don't think China is worried, if you don't think Mexico is worried . . . well, they are," she said.

I have not been, dear diary, to China, (where I understand they have recently exhibited their profound eco-conscience in the cavalier construction of a new dam) but I have been to Mexico City and can report there is little evidence of action on the environment. One might as well suck on an exhaust pipe as take a walk.

But lest I be accused of acting in ignorance of the environment, let it be said that such an allegation is entirely without foundation.

Stewart's new four-pronged call for action on clean air, clean water, climate change and nature has my complete backing. Further, I love my Mom. I am in favour of all these things -- climate change in particular if the past two balmy Decembers are anything to go by. I even have some sympathy when Stewart concedes that while the "international community" has decided that global warming is occurring due to human activity, "nobody" is 100-per-cent sure that this theory is true.

I just think that when people sign treaties they should have some idea what they are getting themselves into. Aren't I the old-fashioned one?

Still, the last word goes to Stewart.

"No matter if the science is all phoney, there are collateral environmental benefits."

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