There was a time, as I was coming of age in the early 2000s, when the zeitgeist among people concerned about the climate crisis went something like this: The world may not yet support drastic action on climate change because we do not understand the danger we are in. that we face – but when the disasters start to happen, we will unite under common cause and solve this problem.

Well, disasters keep happening. Since the turn of the century, the 10 deadliest climate disasters alone have killed more than half a million people global. Climate change has cost us 2.8 trillion dollars over the same period. As Natasha Bulowski reported this week, survivors of climate disasters are I’m trying to sound the alarm and show us – physically show us – what happens when extreme weather hits our homes and communities. But, at least among the most powerful, the overwhelming response so far has been the opposite of unity and action. Instead, we are faced with blame, division, paranoia and lies.

Take for example the quarrels between Alberta and Ottawa. Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta – a place that lost one of its most iconic parks in a fire over the summer and is still home to half the province. struggling with drought – faces a leadership review this weekend. Thus, Smith returned to the metaphorical well (which never dried up) and fought again with Ottawa on the carbon tax.

This is a proven technique for lighting the base. Recent successes include struggles over immigration, in which she blames newcomers for the rising cost of living; the upcoming emissions cap, which she falsely called a cap on oil production; and federal housing, dental, pharmacare, and child care programs, each of which she attacked for a combination of overreach and underconsultation.

In the case of the carbon tax fight and subsequent leadership overhaul, the base Smith is pandering to is rural Albertans whose fields are dry and homes vulnerable to fire; Canadians who most need immediate climate action. Instead, they are being thrown red meat and promised that any problem they face comes from the vile mind of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In Ontario, Doug Ford panders to suburbanites by commit to removing cycle pathsproposing a modest but effective climate solution in the hopes of pissing off drivers in Etobicoke and Brampton enough to reward him with his third majority government. This vote could take place sooner than expected, given the speed with which it is moving; Toronto outlets reported Last week, the government already decided which streets would be dug first in the city in the name of “saving you time”. Forget that bike lanes have been shown to benefit drivers and cyclists alike – not to mention increased traffic and business sales – it was never about the data. It’s about anger, and anger sells.

It’s not like we’re getting much more from progressive leaders. One of the key promises of British Columbia Premier David Eby’s re-election last month was to scrap the provincial carbon tax — the country’s first — if the federal government removed its backstop. That’s code for “when Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre becomes prime minister,” if you haven’t been closely following the Liberals’ downfall. The fact that Eby is already giving in to an imaginary federal government is frightening.

Climate skeptic games extend outside the public domain and also extend to industrial spaces. John Woodside reported this week that the president of the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) called the energy transition “sectarian” in a statement. eight-minute speech that rages to an audience of far-right think tanks. The association and its members, it seems, would rather people direct their skepticism toward the few ways out of climate disaster (including, crucially, abandoning their products), rather than letting them too think about how, for example, to export LNG. recently proved even worse for the climate than burn coal. This is a smart strategy, especially considering that CGA member FortisBC, working hard behind the scenes to overturn Vancouver’s gas ban for new construction – there’s no reason why FortisBC shouldn’t lose any of its customers when the energy transition is just a cult, right?

South of the border, this kind of rhetoric, finger-pointing, misdirection, complacency and rage could be about to get a lot worse. A new victory for Trump, following a campaign fueled in part by climate conspiracy theories, would have the effect of kill American involvement in the green transition. Worse, a second administration led by a notoriously climate-denying Trump would double down on oil and gas, abandon environmental regulations, and put the brakes on the growth of the green energy industry.

I’m thinking about all of this, not because it’s therapeutic (although maybe it is a little), but because from what we see today, it doesn’t seem like humanity is going to organically coalesce around solutions anytime soon. . If this is the case, we must find a way to demand these solutions from our leaders, no matter how deeply flawed and cynical the ruling class may be. We will need to fight misinformation with every tool we have, from inoculation to counter-messaging. First, let’s hold liars accountable.

If you read this newsletter, you understand the position we find ourselves in. It’s a start.