Canadian government's evolving climate change policy all hot air

onSep 4, 2007 @ 15:08 PDT

The Conservative government first denied the scientific evidence for man-made global warming. They then accepted that something needed to be done, but it needed to be a “Made in Canada” solution.

Now, the Conservative government appears to be shucking the “Made in Canada” talking point for an “international agreement” one.

Environment Minister spokesman, Mike Van Soelen said in a recent interview that, “Canada’s position has been clear. Any agreement on climate change needs to include large emitting countries like China, India and the United States. We have also insisted that a global effort on climate change is needed.”

If by clear, you mean the exact opposite of clear, then yes, Canada’s approach has been absolutely crystal clear.

What’s next “an intergalactic approach?” Maybe if it does well in focus groups.

By Kevin Grandia

Kevin is a contributor and strategic adviser to DeSmog. He runs the digital marketing agency Spake Media House. Named a “Green Hero” by Rolling Stone Magazine and one of the “Top 50 Tweeters” on climate change and environment issues, Kevin has appeared in major news media outlets around the world for his work on digital campaigning. Kevin has been involved in the public policy arena in both the United States and Canada for more than a decade. For five years he was the managing editor of DeSmogBlog.com. In this role, Kevin’s research into the “climate denial industry” and the right-wing think tank networks was featured in news media articles around the world. He is most well known for his ground-breaking research into David and Charles Koch’s massive financial investments in the Republican and tea party networks. Kevin is the first person to be designated a “Certified Expert” on the political and community organizing platform NationBuilder. Prior to DeSmog, Kevin worked in various political and government roles. He was Senior Advisor to the Minister of State for Multiculturalism and a Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Asia Pacific, Foreign Affairs for the Government of Canada. Kevin also worked in various roles in the British Columbia provincial government in the Office of the Premier and the Ministry of Health. In 2008 Kevin co-founded a groundbreaking new online election tool called Vote for Environment which was later nominated for a World Summit Award in recognition of the world’s best e-Content and innovative ICT applications. Kevin moved to Washington, DC in 2010 where he worked for two years as the Director of Online Strategy for Greenpeace USA and has since returned to his hometown of Vancouver, Canada.