Until he came to U of T for a talk on climate change Saturday afternoon, George Monbiot hadn’t flown in two years. Monbiot, who has written about climate change for a decade, had decided against flying when he reflected on the carbon footprint of air travel. A Guardian columnist and author of Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning, Monbiot broke his self-imposed ban to speak in Canada in the lead-up to the international climate change summit in Copenhagen next week.
“So many people have pressed me to come to Canada to help to kick up a fuss about how the government isn’t doing anything at all to advance the [international climate change negotiation] process, and doing everything in its power to obstruct the process,” said Monbiot.
Canada is facing severe criticism for refusing to release ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions. A prominent coalition of campaigners, politicians, and scientists called for the suspension of Canada from the Commonwealth last week. Even UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon has rebuked Canada.
“Many countries, developed and developing countries, have come out with ambitious targets,” said Moon. “Canada is going to soon chair the G8 and therefore it is only natural that Canada should come out with ambitious mid-term targets.”
“We have seen now a story of systematic sabotage,” said Monbiot on Saturday. “At the moment, Canada is earning a pretty bad name for itself.”
Last week, a major survey of Canadians found that three quarters of the population finds Canada’s lack of leadership on reducing greenhouse gas emissions embarrassing.
“The distance between the sensibilities of ordinary Canadians and those who come to define Canada’s image abroad seems to be an immense and unbreachable gulf,” said Monbiot. “I’ve never seen such a stark gap, such an enormous gulf, as I see in Canada.”
Speaking on a panel with Richard Littlemore, editor of the DeSmog Blog, and Dave Martin of Greenpeace Canada, Monbiot called on Canadians to demand action from their government. Audience members included U of T and Toronto activists, as well as people from across southern Ontario.
“As we approach the biggest and most significant meeting there has ever been on environmental issues […] this is a time for statesmanship,” said Monbiot. “It is not a time to have your policy determined for you by the economic interests, particularly of a very destructive and rapacious industry. This is a time to stand back and see what the wider interests of humanity are.”
On Dec. 1, Monbiot will take part in a Munk Debate with Elizabeth May, Bjorn Lomberg, and Lord Nigel Lawson on how the world should respond to climate change. The debate will take place from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at the Royal Conservatory, 273 Bloor St. W. For more details, see munkdebates.com.
