The federal government recently
pulled out of an important global
at fighting drought, a problem that
affects almost 30 per cent of Earth’s
land surface and threatens the
well-being of more than a billion
people worldwide, including in our
Prairie provinces.
Every year, the cumulative effects of overgrazing, over-cultivation, deforestation,
poor irrigation and increasing extreme weather events – including those that
cause drought – permanently degrade close to 10 million hectares of land.
This has led to a creeping loss of places where food can easily be grown.
desert-like “dead zones” that can no longer support human life in
places such as sub-Saharan Africa. No region is immune. Close to
three-quarters of North America’s dry lands, including parts of the
Prairies, are vulnerable to drought. And sudden loss of agricultural
productivity can be devastating to farm communities across Canada.
Under the UN convention, close to 195 countries are working to
improve living conditions for some of the world’s most vulnerable people,
to maintain and restore land and soil productivity and to reduce the effects
of drought, including food and water shortages, malnutrition, mass
migrations, increased political instability and war.
Many aid and development experts believe this international agreement is
critical to advancing global economic, political and food security. Canada
is the only country to walk away.
The convention is a rare example of people from around the world coming
together to address the root causes of environmental and social crises. It
was passed shortly after drought-related crop failures and resulting
malnutrition, starvation and mass migrations ravaged the Horn of Africa in
the 1980s in places like Somalia and Ethiopia.
Canadians opened their hearts and wallets to these horrific droughts.
Our government matched public efforts with leadership in helping to
negotiate the Desertification Convention, signed in 1994. Canadians
even led its decision-making body for many years. Through our
partnership in the convention, previous federal governments also
direct aid to drought-stricken nations.
Canada’s past leadership is no surprise. Drought is a serious problem
nation” under the convention, given that 60 per cent of our croplands
and 80 per cent of our rangelands are in dry-land areas. Earlier droughts,
such as the dust bowls of the Dirty ’30s, triggered severe erosion and
dust storms, and resulted in tragic consequences, including massive
unemployment and abandonment of farms across the Prairies.
The current government even recognizes our social and economic
in 2001-02 resulted in $3.6 billion in losses
to farmers from reduced agricultural production in Canada. The study
warned that climate change is likely to cause more droughts and
associated economic risks. As one of the highest per capita greenhouse
gas emitters in the world, we’re contributing to worldwide drought.
Canada was once renowned internationally for progressive ideals and
values that help improve the world – from the creation and deployment
of peacekeepers by the government of Lester B. Pearson to our support
for a global ban on anti-personnel land mines with the passing of the
Ottawa Treaty (also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention).
The world community recognized many of our leaders for these
efforts with Nobel Peace Prizes and nominations.
By abandoning the UN Desertification Convention, as well as other
important international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol, we’re
sending the wrong message to the world community. We’re saying
that exporting resources like oil and timber matter more to us than
contributing to dialogue and partnership on global issues. That Canada
just to save about $300,000 a year, makes matters worse.
Nature doesn’t heed human borders, and global problems like drought
and desertification require global solutions. Canada was wrong to pull
out of the UN Desertification Convention. Doing so further isolates us
on the world stage as a
partner in addressing environmental issues and tarnishes our hard-
earned reputation when it comes to making the world a better place to live.
By David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Ontario
and Northern Canada Director General Faisal Moola.
Sun (Greystone Books/David Suzuki Foundation), by David Suzuki and
Ian Hanington, now available in bookstores and online
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