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Wed, 2008-03-19 11:46Jim Hoggan
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Survey Shows Canadians Confused about Climate Science

People who don't know what causes global warming won't know how to stop it

Environmental groups, scientists and government seem to be failing, quite catastrophically, to educate the public about the cause of climate change, leaving Canadians ill-equipped to act or to judge the actions of their political leaders.

That conclusion seems inescapable in light of a new national survey sponsored by public relations firm Hoggan & Associates and The Climate Project-Canada. The survey, conducted March 7 to 10 by the national polling firm McAllister Opinion Research, shows that 79 per cent of Canadians say they understand climate science "fairly well" or "very well." Yet, when questioned further, nearly half of those respondents could not correctly identify greenhouse gases or CO2 emissions as the cause.

Read more: Survey Shows Canadians Confused about Climate Science
Sat, 2008-03-08 09:05Jim Hoggan
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Canadian Business Wag Has No Business Talking Science

“An issue as important as global warming should not descend into a shouting match between the faithful and the heretical.”

That was the subhead in the print version of Jack Mintz’s March 17 column in Canadian Business and, up to that point, he was making pretty good sense. But then Mintz took to shouting about the heretical Dr. David Suzuki, a man who continues to infuriate certain segments of Canadian society and, especially, Canadian media by honouring science over the theology of unlimited Alberta oil exploitation.

Read more: Canadian Business Wag Has No Business Talking Science
Fri, 2008-03-07 12:13Jim Hoggan
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Canadian Watchdog Slams Environmental Spin

Canada's environment watchdog has slammed the federal government for failing to keep its environmental commitments most of the time.

In a report to Parliament, the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable Development gave the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper a failing grade in 9 out of 14 problem areas that the commissioner had already identified.

Read more: Canadian Watchdog Slams Environmental Spin
Sun, 2008-02-17 15:50Jim Hoggan
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Harper snubs IPCC Scientists; Shoots Self in Foot

The Harper government did itself an injury this week when it boycotted a celebration for the Nobel Prize-winning scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The reception, on Parliament Hill last Tuesday, was hosted by the Swedish Ambassador and featured speeches from all party leaders save Prime Minister Stephen Harper. As Green Party leader Elizabeth May noted, this was a petty snub:

"When your fellow countrymen win the Nobel Peace Prize, you rise above the fact that you didn't like their advice," May said.

Read more: Harper snubs IPCC Scientists; Shoots Self in Foot
Thu, 2008-01-24 15:35Jim Hoggan
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Alberta Climate Change Plan: Triple Oil Production; Do Nothing; Blame Consumers

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach announced a "climate change plan" today that involves tripling oil production and waiting until 2020 before even beginning to curtail CO2 emissions.

"It would be very difficult to bring in real reductions, immediate reductions, without devastating the economy and the quality of life of Albertans," Stelmach told reporters, without explaining why it is necessary to multiply Alberta's current $73 billion US in fossil fuel exports in order to avoid "devastating the economy."

But the most offensive part of Premier Stelmach's political spin is the attempts that he, his Energy minister and his private-sector stalking horses are making to shift responsibility for action onto consumers.

Read more: Alberta Climate Change Plan: Triple Oil Production; Do Nothing; Blame Consumers
Fri, 2008-01-18 11:18Jim Hoggan
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Spin Resumes as Canada Eyes Emission Standards

Less than a day after Canadian Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon announced the "possibility" of strict new auto emission standards, the newspapers are already filled with threats of dramatic car price increases. The spin season has begun again.

This flurry of threats and misinformation is destined to continue with greater intensity for the next 60 days, the period in which Minister Cannon said the Government of Canada will consult with the automotive industry and environmental groups about the potential for auto emission standards that meet or exceed the new American regulations.

Read more: Spin Resumes as Canada Eyes Emission Standards

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