Suzuki uses Olympic spotlight for climate

Canada's most prominent environmentalist is using the international spotlight of the Vancouver Olympics to scold Prime Minister Stephen Harper for failing to take climate change seriously.David Suzuki took several pointed shots at the Conservative government, and Harper in particular, on Wednesday as his foundation released an environmental report card on the 2010 Winter Games."Canada as a government is one of the great laggards on climate change," Suzuki told a news conference packed with Canadian and international reporters."The federal government is certainly going to be present during the Olympic Games, and they're going to want to gather the glory from that. I think at the same time they have failed miserably to take action on something that could represent a threat to the Games themselves."The Harper government has been facing increased criticism at home and abroad over its environmental policies, as critics complain that Canada isn't doing enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.At last December's climate summit in Copenhagen, for example, environmental groups awarded Canada the dubious "Colossal Fossil" award over its greenhouse gas targets, and the country faced criticism from activists and developing countries that it simply wasn't doing enough to keep emissions under control.Suzuki laid the blame for Canada's failures at Harper's feet."They've been failing for four years - it's not just Coppenhagan," he told reporters.Suzuki referred to Harper's time as "leader of the Reform party.""He didn't believe in climate change at that time. He's given no indication in public that climate change is an issue of any concern to Canadians."As leader of the Opposition Harper, who was in fact leader of the Canadian Alliance, denounced the Kyoto Protocol and raised doubts about the science behind climate change.Today, Harper's government insists it is serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while stressing the need to align Canadian policies with those of the United States.Just a few days ago, the federal environment minister announced Ottawa had formally notified the United Nations that it plans to cut carbon emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels over the next 10 years.But those targets only served to inflame critics who said they still don't go far enough.Suzuki said Canada, as a northern country, is particularly vulnerable and encouraged foreign journalists to hold up British Columbia as an example of the perils of a changing climate.He pointed to the warm weather and lack of snow that is causing problems for the Winter Olympics, pine beetle infestations that have devastated the province's forests, and wild storms like one in 2006 that knocked down thousands of trees in Vancouver's Stanley Park."British Columbia is the example of what is happening as a result of climate change," he said. "That direct relationship, you can't make it from event to event, but the overall trend is very clear."The Olympic report itself included a relatively positive assessment of how local Olympic organizers have addressed environmental sustainability, awarding a symbolic bronze medal.The report applauds sustainable venue design, clear targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transparency.However, the report also complains that the Games' carbon offset program neglects to include air travel to the Games, says the Olympics will leave behind little in the way of sustainable transportation, and says organizers haven't done enough to communicate their efforts to the public.