Canadians have decisively made their desire clear about wanting Canada to demonstrate a real and genuine leadership role in combating climate change and impending global warming. Various surveys, news reports, scientific forums and public debates have repeatedly reflected a serious appetite for Canadians to commit morally and logistically to address global needs to cut green house gas emissions and adapt to this new reality.

Such leadership requires domestic and international commitments and obligations. It requires the government of Canada to champion these desires and translate them into action that could be expressed in regulations, investments, public awareness campaigns, consumption adjustments and international treaties.

It is no secret that the Conservative government has been a let down on this file. Experts and scientists have been speaking out in disappointment about the lack of enthusiasm and will that Stephen Harper has displayed in responding to those needs.

A prime example of that is how the Prime Minister ended up undermining the efforts taken by the Commonwealth Heads of Governments at their recent meeting. According to reports from the conference, Canada was virtually alone, among the 53 nations of the Commonwealth, in opposing a proposed statement that would reportedly have had all leaders say: “We call for a long-term global goal as well as binding commitments to deep, absolute emission reductions by developed countries.”

Stephen Harper’s explanation in rejecting that goal was that he was unwilling to accept the statement unless the whole world was willing to commit to a similar goal; which is kind of bizarre coming from a Prime Minister who has been claiming that Canada, under his leadership, is leading the way on the international arena.

It is undeniable that it would be ideal if the whole world was at the same level of recognizing the threat of global warming, at the same level of economic maturity, at the same level of scientific accomplishment and at the same level of public awareness. Combating climate change would be more efficient if every country accepted the same standard. The reality is that we will not have every country in agreement. It is just not possible. So the question is, what are we, as a developed and responsible country, going to do about it?

I think we can take examples from what we do on a daily basis. We always tell our children to be different than their peers, to aspire to be better than their friends academically and socially. We don’t accept any excuses if they say that they didn’t do their homework because their friends didn’t do their homework, or that they committed any indiscretion. We always ask our kids to be accountable for their own actions, not the actions of others and we ask them not to emulate others if what they are doing is wrong.

I think Canadians expect their leaders to act responsibly and expeditiously on this vital matter, regardless of what other country’s political leaders do. The future security and prosperity of our nation depend on it.