Ottawa: Prime Minister Mark Carney and several other global leaders who skipped the UN Climate Summit (COP31) in Turkey have been awarded the satirical ‘Fossil of the Day’ award. Climate Action Network International announced the dishonor on Tuesday for leaders of developed nations, including Canada, Germany, France, Japan, and Denmark.
The NGO criticized the absence, stating that while global demands for strong climate action grow, the empty seats of wealthy nation leaders demonstrate a lack of commitment to international climate cooperation. In a press release, the organization noted that while these countries have not completely withdrawn like the United States did from the Paris Agreement, their absence clearly signals that they do not prioritize the summit.
Critics argued that amid challenges facing international cooperation, prime ministers should have attended the summit to directly engage with leaders from vulnerable small nations and drive diplomatic progress.
Canada previously received the ‘Fossil of the Day’ award due to shifts in its environmental policies. Canadian actions—such as rolling back or scaling down major climate initiatives introduced by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, including the consumer carbon tax, electric vehicle sales mandates, and oil and gas emissions caps—are expected to draw sharp criticism at the summit.
Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin is currently representing Canada during the first week of the summit. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended a cultural event in Montreal, is set to embark on a 10-day foreign tour following Remembrance Day services. His itinerary includes attending various summits across Ireland, the Philippines, Cambodia, and China, but excludes the UN Climate Summit in Turkey.
