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13 · Thursday, January 7, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com By David Lea Youths embarassed by Canada's showing reports said we just weren't interested in participating," said Juniper. "It felt like a photo op. Barack Obama was there and he was trying, he was in negotiations with China and India and he was really a positive presence. Mr. (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper and (Environment Minister) Jim Prentice didn't seem to be pushing for anything in particular. They were just kind of there for the sake of being there." Juniper said the only thing to come out of Canada during the conference was a statement by Environment Minister Jim Prentice that if climate change legislation was passed it may not apply to the Alberta tar sands. "That was a major negative at the conference," said Juniper. Opposition parties have been calling on the government to adopt the emissions reductions targets of 25-40 per cent below 1990 levels, however, these have been denied in favour of 20 per cent emissions NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER reduction below 2006 levels by 2020, which Bigda and Juniper BACK FROM COPENHAGEN: Matt Juniper and Ashley Bigda are have called too little too late. home from the UN's climate change conference. Bigda, who referred to Canada's performance at the conference as `pathetic,' noted Canada's global reputation took a severe beating in Copenhagen with people from a variety of countries all commenting on Canada's lack of interest in pulling its own weight in the fight against climate change. "We talked to people from African countries like Mozambique, we spoke to some people from Southeast Asia, we were talking to Europeans, at one point we talked with the mayor of Amsterdam and she and everyone had the exact same opinion of Canada," said Bigda. "It was very, very sad to see that no matter who you spoke to everyone pointed out Canada as a complete hindrance and obstacle to achieving any sort of climate deal. Canada is also one of the heavy players, a big emitter and everyone knew that. We just had a very bad reputation at the conference all around." As if all this was not bad enough, Oakville native and Canadian Youth Climate Coalition delegate Rhiya Trivedi, 19, noted OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Not Canada's finest hour. This is what several Oakville youths had to say after returning from the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which took place in Copenhagen, Denmark from Dec. 7 to Dec. 18. The conference ended with a collective agreement by the nations of the world to keep the planet's average temperature from rising more than two degrees Celsius. This agreement, however, lacked any kind of legal binding framework meaning no country on earth is under any obligation to adhere to it. Young Liberals of Canada and International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) delegates Matt Juniper, 23, of Campbellville and Ashley Bigda, 22, of Oakville noted Canada did nothing to alter what is being seen by many as a profoundly disappointing outcome to the international conference. "There was just no initiative taken by Canada. We essentially came to the conference and all See Climate page 14 Amazing Savings on ACT NOW TO QUALIFY FOR HOME RENOVATION TAX CREDIT! shutters now! Made in Canada Can from Canada's number one shutter company 4280 Harvester Road, Burlington Telephone: 905-336-5341 www.blindadvantage.ca