Global Consensus
With yet another international scientific panel releasing a report on climate change, there is no doubt that we are heading down a road of self-destruction as a planet. Politicians everywhere can no longer simply lie and say that will not happen. The new doctrine around the globe seems to be “it will cost too much to do anything about it.” Chinese officials are expressing great concern over any measure to curb green house gas release in that country would slow down their fast growing economy. And here in Canada, our puzzlingly named Environmental Minister again brings out the economic end-time scenario he used just a week ago. This global political consensus seems to be “it is better to die a slow death than die right now.” Sure, global warming will slowly but surely destroy the world’s economy, but to do anything about it may damage the world’s economy; to do nothing is therefore the only thing to do. While the logic of this argument is deeply faulted, it had gained great acceptance in political circles. The reason is quite simple: it has to do with the politicians’ own survival. It is the expressed strategy of the Chinese Communist Party that continuous economic growth is the mean by which they stay in dictatorial power. And threat to this growth is therefore a direct threat to their own existence. As the air, river and lakes of China continue to be poisoned, the government delights on the continuous economic growth and their tight grip on power. Certainly this is an evil of a totalitarian state and not a problem for the enlightened democratic governments. Unfortunately, as Mr. Baird demonstrated, that is just not the case. Our Conservative government has its electoral base in the oil fields and boardrooms. They are beholden to these interests. If to save the world is to threaten these interests, it will be a direct threat to their political lives. They are not really concerned about the world’s health or ours but their own political health. It has become increasingly clear that serious climate problems will be upon us in our lifetimes; but as far as the politicians are concerned, these problems will not be happening within their political lives. This is what they have in common—their self political interest, not at all enlightened.