A letter from George Monbiot published in the Globe and Mail in response to Margaret Wente’s “Hard Questions for Elizabeth May“:

Margaret Wente suggests I said that environmentalists “don’t understand the science and they don’t understand the economics” (Hard Questions For Ms. May – May 10). I’ve said nothing of the kind.      Read more »

There is a lot of noise being made today about the Pembina Institute’s comparison of the Metrolinx and Mayor Rob Ford’s transit expansion plans.  The Toronto Star reported on it and the Toronto Environmental Alliance has been alerting its members to it as well.  Whether you prefer subways or light rail, you still have to conclude that Mayor Ford’s plan is inconsistent with his stand on reducing waste.  If you want subways to deliver anywhere close to the kind of service you can get from surface transit, you better be prepared for substantially higher taxes.

Meanwhile, George Monbiot in the United Kingdom is facing the identical nonsensical rhetoric of “ending the war against the car”, and writes as only he can:     Read more »

Yesterday, I had the privilege of hearing George Monbiot speak live for the second time in my life.  It is a very rare privilege because two years ago, shortly after the last time I saw him, when he was on a tour promoting his then newly-published book Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning, he promised himself never to fly again.

He joked that he broke his promise for this trip because it was easier than putting off the pestering Canadians any longer.  But he was also clearly here because he was concerned about Canada’s position on climate change and the direction our government was taking both the country and the world.

I was very glad I went.  First of all, I was glad simply because it’s inspiring to listen to someone who is so informed, so eloquent and so principled and inspiring.  But I was also glad because there’s just so much more that can be said in person than could ever fit into a printed article.  It’s relatively easy to make guarded and thoughtful statements when you can erase what you don’t like.  To my delight, Monbiot in person presents as even more compassionate and sensible than he does on paper.

To me the most interesting point of the event occurred during the questions that followed, when one person asked about Mr. Monbiot’s opposition to biochar.     Read more »

The international climate change treaty summit is less than a month away in Copenhagen.  This week in Toronto, leading experts on the science, policy and politics of global warming will lead a forum on the role Canada is (and isn’t) playing internationally.

• George Monbiot is a columnist for the Guardian and the author of Heat: How to Save the Planet from Burning.
• Richard Littlemore is the co-author of Climate Cover Up: The Crusade to Deny Global Warming.

Countdown to Copenhagen:
Who in Canada is Killing the International Climate Treaty?
Saturday, 2009 November 28, 2 pm – 4 pm
MacLeod Auditorium, Medical Sciences Building
University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle
Suggested donation of $10-$25 or PWYC.
Limited seating; arrive early. Media welcome.     Read more »

Elizabeth May and George Monbiot debate Bjørn Lomborg and Lord Nigel Lawson on the importance of climate change.

Be it resolved: Climate change is mankind’s defining crisis, and demands a commensurate response.     Read more »