Harper to attend Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | November 26, 2009 at 11:36 am

352 views | 83 Recommendations | 22 comments

Prime Minister Harper has been criticized by environmentalist for his intention not to attend next months Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. His stance was that there needed to be a critical mass of world leaders before he would attend.

Recently President Obama and the Chinese Leader have now given their intention to attend. This has prompted PM Harper to make the decision to attend.

"The prime minister has made a decision," his spokesman Dimitri Soudas told reporters on the plane in Ottawa shortly before taking off to Port of Spain.

"It is because there is now critical mass of leaders attending," he added.

Obama has committed to cut carbon emission by 17% by 2020. Harper has said in the past that Canada's environmental policy will be coordinated with the United States.

Provinces and Border State governors have, in the past, agreed on similar targets.

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be attending the climate change conference in Copenhagen next month.

"The prime minister has made a decision," his spokesman Dimitri Soudas told reporters on the plane in Ottawa shortly before taking off to Port of Spain.

"It is because there is now a critical mass of leaders attending," he added.

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stejeb

at 12:12 on November 26th, 2009

Well at least he made a decision, takes a lot more than critical mass to do that to our politicians acp!

inuggshopping.com (not verified)

at 22:47 on November 26th, 2009

you're absolutely right.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 12:15 on November 26th, 2009

Thanks for your comments, agree.

marianmo

at 12:31 on November 26th, 2009

glad he is going hope something gets done, buts its a worldwide problem not just north america

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 12:34 on November 26th, 2009

Agreed its a big Chinese problem and they are now going as well.

Amy Judd

at 13:09 on November 26th, 2009

He should have gone in the first place.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 13:20 on November 26th, 2009

I agree that he should have gone, but then President Obama and the Chinese leader had no intentions initially to go either. Since the intent to is to synchronize US and Canadian climate change policy, it will make a lot more sense if President Obama and PM Harper can stand in the same corner on this issue.

marianmo

at 13:30 on November 26th, 2009

i agree acp...hopefully if all go with a sense of purpose much can be accomplisehed

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 13:40 on November 26th, 2009

I'm hoping with China and India attending something can be done to move forward.

Barry ORegan

at 14:11 on November 26th, 2009

WOW, that's great! Why, I am beside myself over this, course we all know nothing will get done, perhaps a few groin slaps, photo ops and lots O promises thought for 2020, when all of them will be out of office, letting the next generation of presidents, prime ministers, dictators drop the ball. Let see what happens in lingy tang land in 2020, one can be sure there will be excuses galore from the new guys in power,

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 14:28 on November 26th, 2009

Thanks for commenting Barry:) We shall see how dedicated they are after they have made the promises, if it.s like Kyoto, it.ll be same old same old. Copenhagen is a nice city though.

Rory Cripps

at 16:00 on November 26th, 2009

HA!

merlingraycat

at 16:03 on November 26th, 2009

One can only hope that they will accomplish something and actually put it into practice.

Babel-Fish

at 17:40 on November 26th, 2009

shhhhsss I really think its to do with Obama pressure and the holding hands with America thing and of course public opinion.

But.... You never know Sara, you never know.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 17:51 on November 26th, 2009

For the record initially Obama wasn't going either. Obama and Harper have agreed to a syncronized approach on the environment. So it makes ultimate sense now that there is attendance by India, China and the U.S. he would go as well.

It seems for the environmentalists he is damned if he does or damned if he don't. Either way he gets bashed.

We should really all hope that something with tangible targets is achieved rather than trying to figure out what his motivation may be. The fact is that he is attending. Be Happy.

Uwe Paschen

at 17:40 on November 26th, 2009

Maybe he is going to call elections soon. :)

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 17:53 on November 26th, 2009

He is in no hurry to call an election, neither are the other parties. We don.t need to spend anymore money to get a similar result.

Uwe Paschen

at 17:58 on November 26th, 2009

He is still lacking a majority as a government and I am certain that is he sees a chance to get a majority he will not hesitate.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 18:17 on November 26th, 2009

Neither would any of the other two leaders. It's the way they all play the game. Minority government is actually better. We have all watched the dictatorships that arise from majority government . Alberta with a party holding 72 of 83 seats is a good example. There are several federal examples too.

If you could trust politicians, of any ilk, to do what you elect them to do, I suppose a majority would be fine.

Paschen you know the old German saying Vertrauen ist gut. Kontrolle ist besser.