Robert Lyman
Credentials
- Bachelor of Arts, International Relations, University of Windsor (1965–1969).1“Robert Lyman,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Background
Robert Lyman is an economist based in Ottawa, Canada, and former policy advisor and manager with the Canadian federal government.2Robert Lyman. “TRANSITION TO REALITY: The prospects for rapid global decarbonization” (PDF), GWPF, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. He is a a frequent contributor to Friends of Science blog posts and reports and was a guest speaker at the FoS 2017 annual event.3“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
According to his FoS bio, Lyman has “written extensively on energy and climate-related issues, including several articles for the FOSS [Friends of Science Society] and a major paper on the factors affecting energy transitions for the U.K. Global Warming Policy Foundation” (DeSmog link added).4“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
Lyman has had several roles with the Canadian federal government. For example, from 1981 to 1983, he was director of special international energy projects at Energy, Mines and Resources Canada.5“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog. From 1983 to 1985 he was government affairs manager for the Canadian Gas Association where he worked on executive interchange at the time of natural gas deregulation.6“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
In the late 1980s he worked as senior director for energy policy with Natural Resources Canada, and later as senior director for Natural Resources Canada’s oil division. 7“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
In his role with Natural Resources Canada’s oil division, Lyman noted in his Friends of Science bio that he worked at a time “when the fiscal regime governing oil sands development was being expanded, and I worked closely with Finance Canada on the key issues.” He added, “At that time, I led the first federal work assessing the public policy that should govern carbon dioxide capture and geological storage.”8“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
From 2002 to 2006, he worked with Transport Canada as director general in environmental affairs where he “[led] the analysis and policy development with respect to emissions reduction in the transport sector, development and implementation of climate programs, and promotion of technology development to reduce emissions in the transport sector.”9“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
According to Lyman’s bio, he also “managed the group providing expert advice on the potential for emissions reduction in the oil industry during the Climate Change Table Process prior to the Kyoto Accord.”10“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
From 2006 onward, Lyman worked as the principal and then owner of ENTRANS Policy Research Group, Inc. In his consulting work, Lyman’s FoS profile noted he “performed major studies for Transport Canada on the implementation of the new Navigable Waters Protection Act, on the governance of the offshore oil shipping regime and on the development of a seamless regulatory regime to govern the prevention of and response to ship-source oil spills.”11“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
Stance on Climate Change
May 19, 2017
The following is from Lyman’s presentation at the Friends of Science’s “Climate Dogma Exposed” event:12“Robert lecture: Can Canada Survive Climate Change Policy?” YouTube video uploaded by user “Friends of Science,” Jun 1, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
“Environmentalists often claim that what we need is an honest dialog about climate change. What they really mean is that the general public should acquiesce with the thesis that human-induced global warming threatens a catastrophe and that reducing emissions should be given priority over all other public interest objectives. I agree that we need an honest dialog about climate change mitigation.” [00:36:55]
[…]
“Never before, however, have we faced a situation in which commitment to an international objective may impose enormous and divisive costs on Canada for no discernible global environmental benefit. Climate change thus offers a clear dichotomy between the Canadian national interest and the global environmental agenda. Which should we value higher? I, for one, choose Canada.” [00:38:34]
Key Quotes
March 11, 2025
In an article titled “Despite the change in mood, pipelines still can’t be built in a day,” Lyman wrote the following regarding the consultation of Indigenous groups prior to building new pipelines:13Robert Lyman. “Opinion: Despite the change in mood, pipelines still can’t be built in a day,” Financial Post, March 11, 2025. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2kn5J
“The project sponsor would have to satisfy the now quasi-constitutional requirement that Indigenous groups potentially affected by the project be offered ‘meaningful consultation’ to obtain their ‘free, prior and informed consent’ — the standard imposed by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which the Trudeau government endorsed in 2016. Such consultations can involve procedural intransigence or excessive demands for compensation, whether in the form of benefit agreements or free grants of equity ownership.”14Robert Lyman. “Opinion: Despite the change in mood, pipelines still can’t be built in a day,” Financial Post, March 11, 2025. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2kn5J
Lyman concluded:
“The public policy environment in which North American pipeline companies operate and invest remains a hostile one, mainly because of climate policy, regulations and activism. Without further change, it is hard to see private investors taking the risks involved in any major new project. If one is built, it may have to be financed by a government, and the Trans Mountain drama showed us how expensive that can turn out to be.”15Robert Lyman. “Opinion: Despite the change in mood, pipelines still can’t be built in a day,” Financial Post, March 11, 2025. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2kn5J
May 19, 2017
Lyman declared the following at the Friends of Science’s “Climate Dogma Exposed” event.16“Robert lecture: Can Canada Survive Climate Change Policy?” YouTube video uploaded by user “Friends of Science,” Jun 1, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
“How ironic is it that at precisely that moment in human history when the failures of central planning were laid bare for all to see, environmentalists should seize upon climate change as evidence that central planning was an idea whose time had come.”[00:34:12]
Key Actions
November 9, 2024
Lyman wrote an article at C2C Journal titled “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada” where he described the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 as “effectively impossible in the intended timeframe.”17Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
He claimed that without fossil fuels, “Canadians would all be far poorer, colder, less mobile and less able to compete in the global economy.”18Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
While Lyman wrote that “it might be argued that Canada should perform an immediate policy U-turn and cancel all federal measures founded upon any claim of impending climate catastrophe,” he suggested that “Enthusiasm for such an approach must, however, be tempered by the recognition that it runs counter to the position held by all the main political actors in Canada, including notably the mainstream media.”19Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
He then proposed a “middle ground” based on the work of Bjorn Lomborg‘s Copenhagen Consensus Center (CCC).20Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
“The Copenhagen Consensus approach to climate policy presumes that human-induced climate change is occurring and that it probably will have adverse effects, but it contends that other social and environmental issues are more serious threats to humanity and should be addressed as higher priorities,” Lyman noted. 21Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
He added, “This is why it advocates prioritizing a significant increase in funding of basic science to accelerate the discovery and commercialization of new emission-reducing technologies. It also places priority on measures taken to adapt to (rather than seek to prevent) potential climate changes and to enhance the overall resiliency of the energy system.”22Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
May 19, 2017
Lyman presented at the Friends of Science’s “Climate Dogma Exposed” event.23“Robert lecture: Can Canada Survive Climate Change Policy?” YouTube video uploaded by user “Friends of Science,” Jun 1, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
Affiliations
- ENTRANS Policy Research Group, Inc. — Principal since 2006. 24“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Transport Canada — Director general, environmental affairs (September 2002 – October 2006). 25“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Natural Resources Canada — Senior director, oil division (1995 – 2002). Senior director, energy policy (June 1985 – March 1993). 26“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Privy Council Office — Senior economist, task force on Atlantic groundfish crisis (April 1993 – August 1995). 27“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Canadian Gas Association — Government affairs manager (September 1983–June 1985). 28“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Energy, Mines and Resouces Canada —Director, special international energy projects (1981 –1983). Economist, energy policy division (1980–1981). 29“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- Department of External Affairs — Foreign service officer (1969–1979). 30“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Social Media
Publications
Some sample publications below:
C2C Journal
- “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024
Financial Post
- “Will the infrastructure act bring economic growth?” Jun 12, 2025.
- “Plant-powered Air Carney won’t fly,” Apr 24, 2025.
- “Is Ontario’s net-zero transition merely ‘challenging’ or impossible?” April 11, 2024.
- “We need to hear political candidates’ views on the globalist vision for 2050,” Apr 03, 2025.
- “Despite the change in mood, pipelines still can’t be built in a day,” Mar 11, 2025.
- “Don’t let Liberals try the old switcheroo on climate policies,” Jan 23, 2025.
- “Canada must beware the Baku climate hustle,” Nov 27, 2024.
Other Resources
*Profile image screenshot of Lyman’s presentation at Friends of Science’s Climate Dogma Exposed event, via YouTube.
Resources
- 1“Robert Lyman,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 2Robert Lyman. “TRANSITION TO REALITY: The prospects for rapid global decarbonization” (PDF), GWPF, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 3“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
- 4“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
- 5“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 6“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
- 7“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 8“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
- 9“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
- 10“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
- 11“Robert Lyman – Background and Experience,” Friends of Science. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/8SEsV
- 12“Robert lecture: Can Canada Survive Climate Change Policy?” YouTube video uploaded by user “Friends of Science,” Jun 1, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
- 13Robert Lyman. “Opinion: Despite the change in mood, pipelines still can’t be built in a day,” Financial Post, March 11, 2025. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2kn5J
- 14Robert Lyman. “Opinion: Despite the change in mood, pipelines still can’t be built in a day,” Financial Post, March 11, 2025. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2kn5J
- 15Robert Lyman. “Opinion: Despite the change in mood, pipelines still can’t be built in a day,” Financial Post, March 11, 2025. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/2kn5J
- 16“Robert lecture: Can Canada Survive Climate Change Policy?” YouTube video uploaded by user “Friends of Science,” Jun 1, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
- 17Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
- 18Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
- 19Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
- 20Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
- 21Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
- 22Robert Lyman. “Net Gain: A Common-Sense Climate Change Policy for Canada,” C2C Journal, November 9, 2024. Archived August 11, 2025. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/kvxfd
- 23“Robert lecture: Can Canada Survive Climate Change Policy?” YouTube video uploaded by user “Friends of Science,” Jun 1, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
- 24“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 25“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 26“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 27“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 28“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 29“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 30“Robert Lyman: Experience,” LinkedIn. Accessed August 2025. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
