Canada wins a Fossil of the Day award for failing to understand the fundamental principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility

(Durban, South Africa) Canada has been awarded yet another Fossil of the Day award on the third day of climate change negotiations in Durban, South Africa. This “prize”, given to countries who are blocking progress at the United Nations climate summit, is awarded daily by a coalition of 700 leading international NGOs.

The text for the presentation of the award is as follows:

A memo for Canada

Once upon a time, countries agreed by consensus on a little thing known as ‘Common But Differentiated Responsibilities” – this became a central pillar in global climate negotiations, recognizing that those who did the most to cause this problem should act first and fastest to clean up the mess they made. 

It seems that Canada’s Environment Minister missed the briefing on this fundamental principle of global climate talks. The minister has made a series of blunders over recent days, garnering Canada 3 fossil of the day awards so far. This most recent blunder is particularly insulting to the majority of the world who in addition to living in poverty are also dealing with the worst impacts of climate change right now.

Minister Kent rejects the idea of ‘guilt payment’ to poorer countries for emissions. He said, “there is a fairly widely held perception in the developing world of the need for guilt payment to be built into any international deal on climate’ (It’s a view Ottawa does not share).

We suspect this will not be a popular opinion here at an African COP – perhaps Minister Kent should prepare himself for the political storms that will await him here in Durban.