Energy minister cites climate change denial blog in defence of scrapping green energy projects
Energy Minister Greg Rickford called blog 'one of my favourite periodicals'
CBC News·Posted: Nov 26, 2019 2:47 PM ET |
Ontario Energy Minister Greg Rickford on Tuesday cited a blog that denies human-induced climate change while defending the government's decision to scrap green energy projects in the province.
During question period at Queen's Park, Rickford called Climate Change Dispatch one of his "favourite periodicals."
The website says its mission is to "deconstruct" climate change theories "propagated" by former U.S. vice president Al Gore and "the highly politicized" International Panel on Climate Change. It asks for donations to help "fight garbage science."
Rickford quoted from a post on the site, titled "Germany Pulls Plug on Wind Energy As Industry Suffers 'Severe Crisis'," in response to questioning from the Opposition about $230-million in cancelled renewable enery contracts in Ontario.
"Well, I'll be a chicken fried in goose fat, Mr. Speaker. It turns out that there's another jurisdiction that's having the same challenges we are," Rickford said.
In its "About Us" section, the online publication says it "does not believe in consensus science" on global climate change.
Rickford's comments come on the same day that the United Nations Environment Programme released its annual Emissions Gap Report.
Earth set to warm 3.2 C by 2100 unless efforts to cut emissions are tripled, new UN report finds
The 168-page document,.compiled by 57 leading scientists from 33 institutions across 25 countries, calls on governments to act immediately, within the next decade, to limit global warming to 1.5 C or 2 C by 2100.
"By now, we know all we need to know. The science is pretty clear, and very frightening," said one of the report's contributing authors.
"But we also know we have the technological options that are needed, at least to the short to medium term."
Speaking to reporters later Tuesday, Rickford said it is "important that you consider all periodicals and sources of literature with differing views.
"I believe in climate change and I believe in literature that supports a balanced article on any given subject matter that points out both sides of the coin," he said.
Rickford did not provide a direct answer when asked whether he agrees with the suggestion that human activity is not contributing to climate change.
Meanwhile, a group of young Ontarians is suing the province over what they say is climate change inaction, arguing that the government has violated their charter rights by softening emissions reduction targets.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greg-rickford-climate-change-blog-1.5373963
Energy Minister Greg Rickford called blog 'one of my favourite periodicals'
CBC News·Posted: Nov 26, 2019 2:47 PM ET |
Ontario Energy Minister Greg Rickford on Tuesday cited a blog that denies human-induced climate change while defending the government's decision to scrap green energy projects in the province.
During question period at Queen's Park, Rickford called Climate Change Dispatch one of his "favourite periodicals."
The website says its mission is to "deconstruct" climate change theories "propagated" by former U.S. vice president Al Gore and "the highly politicized" International Panel on Climate Change. It asks for donations to help "fight garbage science."
Rickford quoted from a post on the site, titled "Germany Pulls Plug on Wind Energy As Industry Suffers 'Severe Crisis'," in response to questioning from the Opposition about $230-million in cancelled renewable enery contracts in Ontario.
"Well, I'll be a chicken fried in goose fat, Mr. Speaker. It turns out that there's another jurisdiction that's having the same challenges we are," Rickford said.
In its "About Us" section, the online publication says it "does not believe in consensus science" on global climate change.
Rickford's comments come on the same day that the United Nations Environment Programme released its annual Emissions Gap Report.
Earth set to warm 3.2 C by 2100 unless efforts to cut emissions are tripled, new UN report finds
The 168-page document,.compiled by 57 leading scientists from 33 institutions across 25 countries, calls on governments to act immediately, within the next decade, to limit global warming to 1.5 C or 2 C by 2100.
"By now, we know all we need to know. The science is pretty clear, and very frightening," said one of the report's contributing authors.
"But we also know we have the technological options that are needed, at least to the short to medium term."
Speaking to reporters later Tuesday, Rickford said it is "important that you consider all periodicals and sources of literature with differing views.
"I believe in climate change and I believe in literature that supports a balanced article on any given subject matter that points out both sides of the coin," he said.
Rickford did not provide a direct answer when asked whether he agrees with the suggestion that human activity is not contributing to climate change.
Meanwhile, a group of young Ontarians is suing the province over what they say is climate change inaction, arguing that the government has violated their charter rights by softening emissions reduction targets.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greg-rickford-climate-change-blog-1.5373963
