It’s Getting Hot In Here

Right now, I’m sitting in the hallways of the Bali International Conference Centre. It’s 8:58am on the last day of negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference and I haven’t slept in over 24 hours. The representatives of 180 different countries are trying to reach a landmark climate deal - a Bali roadmap that will guide the international process for the next two years, and which will probably determine the type of world that I’ll live in.

This should be a hopeful time. I should be celebrating the moment our leaders came together to address the biggest challenge of my generation. But instead, I’m deeply worried, afraid and on edge. The talks have stalled. Everything is hanging by a thread and may all fall apart.Late last night, I learned that Canada, along with the US, was again blocking progress at these negotiations. I learned that my government would rather quibble over who goes first than take real and honest action.As a Canadian, I pride myself on coming from a country with a long history of leadership on the world stage. But today, for the first time, I wonder if this reputation is still deserving.

The Canadian delegation continues to insist that they will not take on binding commitments to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions until every single country in the world - even the poorest, who will be hit the hardest by climate change and who did not cause this problem - does the same. This is completely unacceptable. Since some countries can’t or won’t take on binding targets right now, stubbornly maintaining this stance effectively makes an agreement impossible.

Last night, we called on Canadians to call the Prime Minister’s office and demand that Harper push these negotiations forward. His office was flooded with calls. However, negotiations aren’t over yet and Canada hasn’t changed its position. We can have an impact here, if we keep putting the pressure on. Public opinion is hugely important.

So let’s keep calling.

If you can afford it, call the direct cell phone of the Prime Minister’s representative here in Bali. His name is Dimitri Soudas, and you can reach him on 011 62 85 857 032 037. He needs to hear what Canadians really think.

Or, if the long distances charges are a bit much, call the Prime Minister’s Office at 613 992 4211, and ask to be connected to Mr. Soudas, or the Prime Minister himself.

We also have an online petition urging Harper to stop blocking these negotiations. In only three days we have collected 105,000 signatures from Canadians.

Our future is on the line here - let’s make our voices heard.