Ashamed of U.S. Environmental Efforts? No Need

U.S. ambassador rips Martin over Kyoto

During a climate change summit in Montreal last week, Canada's Prime Minister, Liberal leader, Paul Martin said the United States lacked a global conscience on climate change.

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins warned Canada on Tuesday it risked damaging one of the world's best relationships by focusing on short-term political gain. “The last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election,” Mr. Wilkins said to scattered applause. "Canada never has to tear the United States down to build itself up," Wilkins said.

"I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a 'global conscience' the United States is walking the walk," Wilkins said, addressing the Canadian Club of Ottawa. "And when it comes to climate change, we are making significant progress, greater progress than many of those who have been most critical of the U.S."

Molten Eagle:
Anyone doubting the relative purity of air in the United States or the scale and effectiveness of ongoing improvements to its quality need only visit the E.U. and compare their visible air pollution to ours. Even our Los Angeles basin smog has improved radically. Canada's own smokestack emission criteria generally fall, like those of other countries, well behind those of the U.S. Smokestacks in China, on the otherhand are exempt from Kyoto protocols, and continue to foul the world's atmosphere. Clearly, the envied productivity and jobs of U.S. workers are at stake, and other countries will try anything to handicap us.