Canada and Australia - Comparing Environmental Policies in 16 Countries - page 140

the government had to impose a complete moratorium. The limits and
moratorium devastated the economy of the fishermen. The government
gave them $4 billion in financial aid. In 1999 fishing was again permitted,
but after 4 years the moratorium had to be reinstated. Part of the Grand
Banks is within the 200-mile territorial limits declared in 1977 and part
is in international waters. These are subject to cooperation under the
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization. Success has been mixed, with
the decline of cod, but increases in shellfish.
Canada has often played a role in international environmental issues.
As a midsized developed country, it has tried to specialize in its contribu-
tions to international affairs, and this is one area. (Another was military
peace keeping for the United Nations.) In 1987 it played a key role in con-
trolling damage to the ozone layer caused by CFCs. These chemicals found
in Freon eventually floated up to the stratosphere where they destroyed the
natural ozone layer that protected plants and animals from the destructive
forces of ultraviolet radiation. Canada sponsored an international con-
ference in Montreal, where 24 industrial countries agreed to a detailed
program to limit CFC production, known as the Montreal Protocol. It was
considered a great success.
With respect to global warming, the Canadians wanted to repeat their
diplomatic achievement. In 1988 they convened a conference in Toronto
at which the 300 participants voiced their agreement with the scientific
consensus on the greenhouse effect, and set out the three-part proposal of a
20% reduction in emissions by 2005, a comprehensive treaty, and a fund to
compensate the developing countries. Although the targets were lessened,
the basic tripartite form became the basis for the eventual Kyoto Protocol.
Canada faces the risk of great environmental changes. Melting the Arctic
Ocean ice and the Greenland icecap would modify its climate immedi-
ately. On the positive side, warmer temperatures would moderate its severe
winters and allow wheat and corn to be grown at more northern latitudes.
The Toronto proposal became the basis for the Framework Convention
on Climate Change signed by 160 countries at the Earth Summit in Rio
de Janeiro in 1992. In the election the following year, the Liberal Party
under Prime Minister Jean Chretien promised that “environmental secu-
rity through sustainable development will be a cornerstone of Canadian
foreign polic y.” 4 To set an example, he said Canada would aim to cut
carbon dioxide emissions by 20% from 1988 levels by the year 2005.
In fact, little came of this promise. Chretien toyed with a carbon tax, but
dropped it. Environmentalists pointed out that the petroleum industry