Doug Ford’s Policies Increased Ontario’s Energy Dependency on U.S., Say Experts

Premier Doug Ford cancelled 758 renewables contracts shortly after taking office in 2018.

As Donald Trump’s unjust trade war with Canada heats up, Canadian politicians are advocating less economic dependence on energy exports to the United States. But environmentalists are pointing out that Ontario premier Doug Ford — who has championed electricity surcharges on exports to the U.S. — is chiefly responsible for increasing the Canadian province’s dependency on American fossil […]

Reform Candidate Arron Banks Has Repeatedly Mocked Basic Climate Science

Arron Banks, who is standing as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK candidate for West of England Mayor, has repeatedly rejected key climate facts. The right-wing populist Reform UK describes itself as an “environmentalist” party. However, its leaders and candidates – including Banks – have frequently attacked the science of human-induced climate change. In a trail of […]

Czech MEP Appointed to Climate Role While Paid £10k a Month as Car Consultant

This article was published in partnership with Czech investigative media outlet Deník Referendum A Czech MEP earning €120,000 a year in his second job as an automotive consultant is facing fresh concerns over the “unacceptable” conflicts of interest involved in his latest appointment. Filip Turek was elected to the European Parliament in 2024 as the […]

Former BC Environment Minister Doubts EV Viability, Leads Cenovus-backed Campaign

Former BC environment minister Barry Penner

In a recent policy forum, former environment minister Barry Penner expressed doubts that British Columbia would meet its targets for electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The province had suggested ambitious targets of 26 percent EV use by 2026 and 90 percent adoption by 2030. Nationally, Canada has mandated that 20 percent of all new vehicles sold must be […]

Poilievre Mapped: His Inner Circle of Lobbyists and Right-wing Activists

Koch Industries, Elon Musk’s X Corp., Loblaws, Enbridge, Pathways Alliance, the Canadian Gas Association, Rumble Canada, Rebel News, Canada Proud, and Facebook. These are just a handful of the corporate interests and right-wing communications platforms linked to the inner circle of Pierre Poilievre and his federal Conservatives as Canada heads into a snap federal election […]

EXCLUSIVE: Global Ad Giant WPP Shutters Sustainability-Focused Agency

Global ad giant WPP has closed AKQA Bloom, a Miami-based communications agency specialising in sustainability campaigns, according to an email to staff obtained by DeSmog, and merged its operations with parent agency AKQA. Founded in 2022, AKQA Bloom positioned itself as a forward-thinking advertising agency dedicated to environmental sustainability and social impact. The AKQA staff email said that […]

Some First Nations Ready ‘to Rise’ if Poilievre Lifts BC Oil Tanker Ban

Arnie Nagy speaks at an anti-Enbridge rally in Prince Rupert in September 2011. Photo: Daniel Mesec

On a clear day overlooking the inner harbour of Prince Rupert, a northwest British Columbia town home to Canada’s third largest port, chances are you’ll see a spurt of water coming from the surface of the ocean. “I’ve lived here my whole life and every once in a while, you might get a glimpse of […]

How Jordan Peterson Became a Global Anti-Net Zero Power Broker

Collaged image of Jordan Peterson and Donald Trump against a yellow background with smokestacks.

This special investigation between Canada’s National Observer and DeSmog was produced in collaboration with the Institute for Sustainability, Education and Action and TRACE Foundation. “No more carbon apocalypse-mongering,” Jordan Peterson told an audience of thousands in February at a global conservative conference in London known as the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC). The crowd applauded loudly. The world is […]

Strong Support Among Europeans for Banning Fossil Fuel Ads, Study Finds

Almost half of people surveyed across the European Union are in favour of banning fossil fuel advertising — nearly twice as many who oppose such a move, according to a new study. Climate campaigners are urging governments to impose tobacco-style restrictions on advertising for oil and gas companies and high-carbon goods and services such as flights, […]