The greening international environment

Today, Stephen Harper doled out another $200 million to B.C. as part of his EcoTrust fund, which allows each province to invest in green research and technologies.

While Harper is happy giving out the green at home, this weekend his commitment to going green will be tested internationally when John Baird joins Environment Ministers from around the world at a G8 climate change conference in Germany.

Last week, European countries proposed bold new measures to combat climate change, including a binding target for renewable sources to make up a fifth of EU energy use by 2020.

The much greener European nations are set to ask Canada to join the international carbon market, in which companies buy carbon credits when they exceed their emission targets.

Canadian environmentalists hope that the government will use this conference to prove that by ousting Rona Ambrose and replacing her with Baird, the Canadian government is ready to lead the world on the climate change issue again.

But yesterday Eric Richer, a spokesman for Mr. Baird, suggested the Conservatives will remain firm on their stance against joining the international carbon market.

And the EU is intent on inheriting the role of leader, according to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

"We can say to the rest of the world, Europe is taking the lead. You should join us fighting climate change," he told reporters.