The conference to save the world. That's what some are calling it.
Well it's not like a giant asteroid is approaching and we have to send Bruce Willis into space to destroy it.
The Copenhagen Conference is the largest climate change gathering in history. The aims are laudable.
But its success seems doubtful.
The thing is, Copenhagen is as much about a cash grab as anything else. Billions and billions of dollars will go from countries like Canada to poorer nations. It's called the climate debt.
Someone will have to pay--and in my experience that someone is usually someone like you and me--mainly through high energy bills, but also food and transportation will cost more. Just about anything you buy.
The world economy is struggling and huge new carbon taxes are the last thing we need right now. No solution to climate change will ever be found unless there is prosperity in the developed world. Questions should be asked whether money would be better spent on fighting hunger, poverty and disease than on new technologies to mitigate any problems caused by global warming.
Knowing the history of many developing countries, would the money actually get to where it is supposed to go?
It's a fair question.
What about China, the world's biggest polluter? Its carbon emissions may double in 10 years.
Most people know agreements from Copenhagen might never be realized. The politicians who sign them will be long gone before anything takes effect. There is binding and then there is binding.
This whole process is tainted by the disclosure of documents that showed scientists cooking the books on climate change research.
An inconvenient truth...
There are no easy answers here.
At the time the Danish capital is besieged by 15 thousand delegates and 5 thousand journalists. 12 hundred limos. 140 private jets. Truckloads of caviar.
All to save the world. Or at least to issue a statement of intent.
Yet another Hydro hike
Speaking of energy. Hydro Quebec is asking you for yet another increase.
A small one granted, but still more out of your pocket.
Guess where your money will be going?
A Quebec consumers group has it figured out. The rate hike next year, if approved, will go to pay company bonuses.
The Coalition of Consumers says instead of Hydro seeking an increase, it should actually lower rates.
The average family in Quebec would only see their rates rise by about 5 dollars a year, but knowing that money is going straight into the pockets of Hydro mandarins is indeed cold comfort in a long Quebec winter.
Happy Hanukkah.
