Incandescent Illumination Illegal in Icy North

Yesterday the Canadian government announced a ban on old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, with a freeze on sales effective in 2012.

As suspected, this is just the tip of the iceberg:

"This is more than just about light bulbs," [Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn] said. "The light bulb is only the gateway to broad public engagement on energy efficiency and action on climate change."

But the plan, which is part of Canada's non-Kyoto initiative to combat climate change, got an frigid reception from some environmentalists:

"I see it as an end-run around the United Nations system," Beatrice Olivastri of Friends of the Earth Canada said. "Anything that is a U.S.-related program is clearly outside of Kyoto, so that to me is very worrisome."…"It's putting a Band-Aid on cancer."

For more chilling news on the coming black market in incandescent bulbs, go here.