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Week 2 of Kyoto discussions 'going very badly': May

Canada will not renew its commitment, says environment minister

Canada's Green Party leader says a call for a "period of reflection" on the Kyoto accord is like having a senior officer aboard the sinking Titanic arguing to pause emergency procedures in favour of a yoga class.

Elizabeth May left for Durban, South Africa, on Saturday, where she joined the delegation from Papua New Guinea at the international climate change conference.

She posted her latest thoughts about the proceedings to Facebook Monday

"My sense as week 2 of COP17 ( The 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) begins is that things are going very badly," wrote the MP for Saanich Gulf Islands.

While she criticized the U.S. in its call for a period of reflection, she said Canada actions have been unhelpful as well.

The Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

Canada's Environment Minister Peter Kent announced Monday that Canada will not renew its commitments. He held this position despite the announcement that "China may commit to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions starting in 2020," according to cbc.ca.

Canada joined 190 countries at the convention, which runs until Friday.