Stewart notes that two-thirds of Canadians voted for parties that supported stronger climate action in last year’s federal election. Liberal caucus members “are reportedly nearly unanimous in their opposition to the Teck Frontier mine,” and “there’s also more national alignment behind an energy transition than might be supposed by skimming the headlines,” with 75% telling Abacus Data last month that the transition will benefit them in the long term.
All of which means that “anyone with an interest in energy strategy should see that climate politics are changing, and fast,” he warns. “Failing to act with the urgency the climate crisis demands is rapidly becoming denial 2.0—political kryptonite. It’s a lesson Scott Morrison is learning in Australia, as his coal-happy energy policies come under fire from the public and internal pressure for stronger climate action.”
And closer to home, “as financial giants like BlackRock leave the oil sands behind, Canada could find itself learning that doubling down on oil could be economic kryptonite, too.”