Suzuki, schooled by years of campaigning, offered the most extensive list of obstacles. We are driven by “basically a corporate agenda” that privileges “the economy” over air, water, weather — the very necessities of life. That economy embodies endless growth, the “creed of cancer cells,” and turns nature into collateral damage.

Suzuki lamented the demonization of scientists, and the short-term, election-oriented timeframe of politicians. Their commitments to long-range emission reduction targets for 2050, when they will be long gone from office, are meaningless, he said. Berman argued that accountability legislation, with targets for specific economic sectors, is needed.

Of all the conversationalists, only McKenna has a direct hand in making government policy. That makes her comments — and silences — particularly important.

McKenna may be fighting the good fight within cabinet, but her interview followed the Liberal government’s political script — the “new climate denialism,” described by Seth Klein in a book published this month. By that, he means political and industry leaders verbally accepting the scientific warnings about climate change (by contrast with “old” denialism); but they deny “what this scientific reality means for policy or they continue to block progress in less visible ways.” Such governments “promise climate action” but, because they practise “appeasement” of vested corporate interests, they “deliver underwhelming and contradictory policies.”

Small wonder that the environmental conversationalists are ambivalent about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership. There were kudos for his handling of the pandemic, but bitter disappointment over minimal action to meet Paris climate commitments, and Trudeau’s 2016 turnabout in approving the Trans Mountain pipeline; Berman said it left her “nauseous,” and Suzuki said Trudeau no longer answers his calls.

Source: Environmental leaders on post-COVID Canada: Greener future, or new climate denialism? | rabble.ca