Way back in 1997, world leaders responded to scientists' warnings that global warming had the potential to disrupt ecosystems, cause great damage to the global economy and harm our quality of life. Thus the Kyoto Protocol was born.
In less than two weeks, the protocol will finally enter into force and become international law. This means Canada will be legally obligated to reduce the heat-trapping emissions that are causing climate change.

Now, we've known about this obligation for eight years. And in that time we've done - nothing. Well, next to nothing. The federal government has vaguely pondered the issue and discussed the protocol with industry. But that's about it. In eight years, we haven't reduced the heat-trapping emissions that are causing the problem one bit.

In fact, our emissions have continued to climb - to more than 20 per cent higher than they were in 1990. That shouldn't be surprising. Business tends to continue as usual if there are no plans to change it. And the federal government has never had a plan.

Reducing emissions is both technically feasible and affordable. Other countries around the world have shown that you can reduce emissions and maintain a strong economy. In fact, reducing emissions makes an economy more competitive in the long term by making it more efficient. So as the years tick by and the science of climate change builds, Canada falls further behind.

Most recently, results of the biggest-ever climate simulation were published in the journal Nature. According to the report's worst-case scenario, if carbon dioxide levels double this century as expected, temperatures could rise by an average of 11 degrees Celsius - to levels higher than they were when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

That increase is far outside the range of two to five degrees predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The reason for the difference is that this particular simulation looked at more possibilities than other models. This doesn't mean it's likely to happen, but it is one possible future if we don't get serious about climate change.

So far, Canada's record on the issue is dismal. To be fair, the federal government does have a big initiative called the "One Tonne Challenge." Through a massive advertising campaign starring comedian Rick Mercer, the challenge aims to get individuals to use less energy, thereby reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

That's certainly a worthy goal. Most people probably don't think much about the energy they use - or waste. And many of the suggestions in the challenge are just common sense that will save consumers money. Everyone benefits from such measures in the end.

The problem is, individuals are not the big polluters. Big industry is the big polluter, responsible for more than 50 per cent of Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. And while the federal government has been "encouraging" Canadians to reduce their personal emissions, it has been letting the big polluters negotiate lower and lower targets. Of course, our national targets remain the same, so if industry is let off the hook, someone else will have to take up the slack. Guess who that will be?

Prime Minister Martin has paid a lot of lip service to the concept of sustainability. Kyoto will be a big test as to whether or not his government takes the concept seriously or just uses it as smoke and mirrors while the real polluters continue with business as usual. And if that's the case, expect to see a "Ten Tonne Challenge" in the near future.

Take the Nature Challenge and learn more.