THURSDAY AFTERNOON

Things get more interesting. Last night we were at the IUCN auditorium a block over from the conference centre where the World Business Council on Sustainable Development(includes General Motors and BP) joined Greenpeace in calling for immediate implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. The place was standing room only and the crowd loved it when the announcement was made. Some people will be unhappy but pressure builds on governments as more unusual alliances come together. This morning Canada's Environment Minister had a hissy fit when he was asked about the Greenpeace poll released very early today. The poll shows that 63% of Canadians want Prime Minister Chretien to apologize to the world for failure to meet Canada's commitments made in Rio. Anderson went on about how Canada is an environmental leader and that what was needed was to cut the budget of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - employer of the journalist who asked the question and to put the money into the environment. Canadians he said would appreciate how well the federal government was protecting the environment in Canada if journalists did a better job. My guess is that the minister did not spend much time in Toronto this summer breathing the brown soup that passed for our air many days. My guess is that he is feeling defensive. Anyway, let's see how he does on the negotiations. Last night as well Canada's top energy negotiator was asked about the 10% renewables target that is being proposed here and said that Canada did not support targets. Beyond that she would not answer a question on Canada's position on subsidies to dirty energy. This team needs new instructions.

More gossip to come.

-Peter