It’s Getting Hot In Here

The atmosphere in Bali is intense. Yvo de Boer, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary, showed signs of distress moments ago and left the plenary upon accusations of manipulating the process by China, Ban Ki-Moon delivered an emphatic speech urging for the deadlocked countries to find consensus, and the normal degree of diplomacy that operates in this process has decreased along with the time left for reaching consensus. Plenary speeches make explicit accusations to the US for blocking consensus and American speeches are followed with jeers from the audience.

While the particulars of the mandate continue to be discussed, I hope that Canadians back home are engaged with what is happening in Bali and discussing the position of the Canadian government. I have been tremendously unimpressed not just with the political platform of the Canadian delegation but also with their manner of conduct. Minister Baird has been AWOL from high-level meetings, failed to show up at his own side event to explain the Canadian Turning the Corner Plan, refused to invite opposition ministers in his delegation (but include industry representatives), and refused to meet with any of the UN constituency groups that have requested meetings with the Minister for months in advance.