The United Conservative Party plans to debate a resolution at its upcoming AGM recognizing “the importance of CO2 [carbon dioxide] to life and Alberta’s prosperity.”
Glenn van Dijken, the MLA for Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock, and Jason Stephan, the MLA for Red Deer South, brought forward Policy Resolution #12.
The resolution calls for:
i. abandoning “Net-Zero targets,
ii. Removing the designation of CO2 as a pollutant, and
iii. Recognize that CO2 is a foundational nutrient for all life on Earth.
The fact that party members will spend valuable time discussing this pseudo-scientific resolution when they meet next month in Red Deer says a lot about priorities.
They could discuss how to make communities more resilient to climate change-driven firestorms so that Albertans don’t experience another Fort McMurray or Jasper.
They could discuss how better to manage water in an era of extreme drought so that Pincher Creek residents don’t have to truck it in to keep the taps flowing.
They could discuss doubling emissions reduction targets for the oil and gas sector and revitalizing renewable energy development.
But no. Instead, party members will rally around CO2 – a greenhouse gas – the way worried parents might circle the wagons around a bullied child. In this case, the UCP believes that CO2 has been bullied by scientists and governments worldwide.
“If I had to put money on it, I would bet that it’s going to pass,” Lisa Young, a University of Calgary political scientist, said in an interview. “I think this reminds us that the base of the UCP is host to a pretty substantial group of people who do not believe that climate change is real, or they don’t believe that it is driven by human activity, and they think that any actions taken to transition away from fossil fuels are unnecessary.”
Say Yes to More CO2!
It’s just a resolution. If it passes, as Young believes it will, it’s not binding. It doesn’t become law. But when a resolution makes it onto the AGM agenda, it likely already has party buy-in.
That would be no surprise. It’s perfectly on-brand for Danielle Smith.
Remember two months ago when she was a Jordan B Peterson podcast guest?
While mocking efforts to cut CO2 emissions, she told a nodding Peterson, “I have to tell you, the next logical step is if belching and farting, and breathing is now a sin, how long before they start putting a carbon tax on human beings? Because guess what? We’re all belching and farting and breathing creatures.”
Given all the serious issues facing Alberta, you might wonder why the MLAs van Dijken and Stephan would want to hang their black cowboy hats on such a resolution. Declaring CO2 an “essential nutrient” is much easier than putting forward a thoughtful and researched resolution that offers real solutions to real problems.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall when Resolution #12 hits the convention centre floor at Westerner Park in Red Deer.
All those in favour of celebrating CO2 as essential to Albertan prosperity say, “Aye.”
“Aye! Aye!”
After all, according to the resolution, “the earth needs more CO2 to support life,” not less!
