Some folks just never get the memo. One day the prime minister’s socks are cool — the hallmark of a hip, on-trend politician. And then, the mood of the country changes and those same socks look silly. Suddenly, the rock star is a clown.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Don't have an account? Create Account

It’s hard to ignore the signals that climate warriors are going out of fashion. The Conference of the Parties (COP) sounded ultra-cool back in 1995 when the first global warming gabfest was held in Berlin.

As global warming morphed into climate change, the United Nations conference bloated (COP28 brought nearly 100,000 registered attendees to Dubai). Obviously, the jet set needs to be seen as saving the climate.

Canadian politicians, bureaucrats and environment warriors still believe COP is cool. Canada’s delegation is bigger than those of Russia and the United Kingdom. Heck, we sent more people than Sweden, the Netherlands and New Zealand combined.

Those lucky Canadians will be able, between cocktails, to attend the UN Global Climate Action Awards ceremony. How cool is that?

Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

If they have a taste for something that sounds slightly more esoteric, our delegates can attend sessions on climate finance. And it’s always great to learn about the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund (while enjoying a little air conditioning).

If this all sounds a little complicated, the short version is that it’s about taking money from rich countries and giving it away in the name of climate adaptation. There are no less than three funds set up to toss (our) money at various climate change fans.

What could possibly go wrong? The climate is always changing and there is never a lack of bureaucrats eager to redistribute a little cash.

The UN is great at this stuff. Back in 1995, when COP was just getting off the ground, the UN established and administered the astonishingly effective Oil For Food (OFF) program. Some people (obviously not the COP 28 delegates) will recall the end of OFF. The program managed to market about US$60 billion of Iraq oil while only losing track of about a third of the money. The resulting scandal over kickbacks featured document shredding at the UN while senior officials blocked inquiries. Great work if you can get it.

But never mind the fiscal track record, the endlessly missed targets or the ever-changing science. The party rolls on.

Or maybe it doesn’t.

Here in the cold country, people are not particularly thrilled with carbon taxes. Jonathan Pedneault, co-leader of the Green Party, called Canadians idiots. It seems idiots are smart enough to figure out that heating your house shouldn’t be taxed.

The more people learn about the wild west of carbon trading markets, the transfer of tax dollars to questionable UN climate schemes — and the nebulous effect of climate rhetoric on the climate — the sillier the climate warriors look. And silly is never a good look (see the earlier sock reference).

Climate warriors are about to find themselves and their grand global schemes tossed into the bargain bin. Results matter. With a little luck, more serious approaches to understanding and preserving the environment will come back into fashion.

Who knows, maybe a little more steak and a lot less sizzle will finally put doing good ahead of looking good. A little humility sure wouldn’t hurt.

I hope all those lucky Canadians had a great time in Dubai. Climate change chanting in air-conditioned splendour is fun.

Back here in the cold confines of a Canadian winter, the mood is shifting and climate hysteria is just so yesterday.

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. We have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

QOSHE - SNOBELEN: Climate change activism deserves the cold shoulder - John Snobelen
menu_open
Columnists Actual . Favourites . Archive
We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close
Aa Aa Aa
- A +

SNOBELEN: Climate change activism deserves the cold shoulder

11 0
09.12.2023

Some folks just never get the memo. One day the prime minister’s socks are cool — the hallmark of a hip, on-trend politician. And then, the mood of the country changes and those same socks look silly. Suddenly, the rock star is a clown.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Don't have an account? Create Account

It’s hard to ignore the signals that climate warriors are going out of fashion. The Conference of the Parties (COP) sounded ultra-cool back in 1995 when the first global warming gabfest was held in Berlin.

As global warming morphed into climate change, the United Nations conference bloated (COP28 brought nearly 100,000 registered attendees to Dubai). Obviously, the jet set needs to be seen as saving the climate.

Canadian politicians, bureaucrats and environment warriors still believe COP is cool. Canada’s delegation is bigger than those of Russia and the United Kingdom. Heck, we sent more people than Sweden, the Netherlands and New Zealand combined.

Those........

© Toronto Sun


Get it on Google Play