Cost of Kyoto recession?

With both sides using scaremongering tactics and an issue that is exceedingly complex the public may become cynical and apathetic. This would play into the hands of the Conservatives who realise the environment is not their strong point. Although the environment shows up in polls as a big concern it is not at all clear how much if any people are willing to sacrifice to solve environmental problems. Hence the Conservatives may be wisely stressing costs and ignoring benefits. It would seem that there might very well be short term overall costs in meeting Kyoto but then the world is not going to collapse if Canada commits itself, tries its best, and fails! The whole article is at this site.

Cost of Kyoto is recession: Baird
Meagan Fitzpatrick, CanWest News Service
Published: Friday, April 20, 2007
OTTAWA - The cost of meeting Canada's Kyoto commitments would be an economic downturn to rival the worst recessions of the past 60 years, spiralling energy costs and the worst unemployment in several generations, John Baird, Minister of the Environment, said yesterday.

Appearing before a Senate committee studying Bill C-288, the Liberal bill that would force the government to comply with Kyoto, Mr. Baird painted an apocalyptic portrait of a country economically hobbled by the wrenching changes Kyoto would require.

Home heating costs would spiral; joblessness would soar; and Canada's economy would slow by 4.2%, equal to the worst recession since the Second World War.




Liberals and other opponents immediately accused the government of scaremongering.

"This minister has put forward no analysis on the related, positive economic benefits. In fact, he deliberately ignored those benefits that come from better energy efficiency, lower energy use and jobs related to the benefits of emissions reductions," said Liberal environment critic David McGuinty.

"Why did he do so? Because that story is too positive, too positive for Canadians to know."

Mr. Baird stood his ground, and was backed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"You cannot reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one-third in less than four years and have a positive effect for the Canadian economy," Mr. Harper said.

"We will bring forward a plan that will result in real reductions in a reasonable time frame and it will result in long-term growth for the Canadian economy. This party has no intention of doing anything that is going to destroy Canadian jobs or damage the health of this economy."