Canada outdone by the Maldives

I’d like to thank my friend Glenn MacIntosh of EcoSanity for his recent posting alerting me to this stunning, heartbreaking address:

President Nasheed of the Maldives appeals to the United Nations to commit to targets of 350 ppm and temperature increases no higher than 1.5 degrees Celsius so that his country might stand a chance of not being swept beneath the seas.

To demonstrate the strength of his country’s commitment, he announces the Maldives intention to become carbon neutral by 2020.  This is a country with per capita GDP of $3,600, the kind of developing country that is supposed to depend on the leadership of countries like ours to show the way.  Canada, with a GDP 10 times higher finds it impossible to commit to any reductions at all in that time frame.

Watching this video makes me ashamed to be Canadian.