Will climate change spark interest as an election issue?

Professor Margot Hurlbert, at the University of Regina, is also Canada Research Chair in Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability Policy. She authored elements of the UN’s IPCC report in 2019 as well as this week’s iteration specializing in the area of climate risk.

She thinks now is the time.

“Our drought in southern Saskatchewan and the wildfires in the north is a wake-up call,” Hurlbert told paNOW. “We’ve been somewhat distracted maybe by COVID as a risk that’s been in the forefront, but I think what’s going on now on the global stage in addition to the IPCC report brings climate change front and centre, even in a place like Saskatchewan.”

Professor Margot Hurlbert, at the University of Regina, is also Canada Research Chair in Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability Policy. She was one of the authors of the IPCC report on climate change published this week. (University of Regina)

The IPCC report notes the role of human influence on the climate system is undisputed. It points to the Earth getting so hot that temperatures in about a decade will probably exceed a level of warming that world leaders have been trying to prevent. However, the scientists say there is still hope humanity can prevent the worst-case scenarios.

‘The new denial is delay’

Against the backdrop of the extreme heat and wildfires across Western Canada this year — including the dangerous wildfire that threatened Prince Albert as early as May — and similar extreme events in the United States and Europe, critics are calling on all candidates in the next federal election to ensure climate change is a campaign issue, Hurlbert agrees.

“I think the new climate change denial is delay. And what we see is not having climate change at the forefront of the political agenda means it’s not something a candidate is going to act on in their first 12 months in office.”

She suggested the lack of political priority was much like the climate change deniers who have thwarted action for decades.

Does Hurlbert think most voters in Saskatchewan will expect their candidates to get with the times come the federal election? Historically, the issue has largely been one for younger people who take part in public demonstrations about the climate but feel excluded from the political process and tend not to vote.

“There’s an older generation — the over 50s — that are starting to be concerned about the inter-generational effects of climate change; what we’re leaving the next several generations. I do believe younger people are key, but I do believe it’s becoming important to all age groups,” she said.

Differing political perspectives

Meanwhile, what do two of the federal election contenders in the riding of Prince Albert think about the importance of climate change on their campaign agendas?

Speaking on the BBQ circuit this week, Conservative MP Randy Hoback said climate change is “always something that comes up” and the key is to ensure things are being done to mitigate and adapt to future changes.

“There’s a lot more forward vision being talked about within our party,” he said. “And if you look at a provincial example [of adaptation work], it’s the huge irrigation project in southern Saskatchewan. Those are the things that need to happen.”

He said whether or not climate change is human-caused remains a source of debate, but not the need to adapt.

“The UN thinks it’s man-made … but if you ask a lot of farmers around here they’d probably say ‘no, it’s not.’ But regardless, the climate is changing and we have to adapt.”

Randy Hoback, MP, on the BBQ circuit. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW Staff)

Hoback doesn’t think climate change will be a big issue for voters in the riding. He figured the economic recovery, getting the crops off, ensuring the oil and gas sectors “are properly respected”, and rural crime will be more important issues.

But Hoback’s Liberal Party challenger Estelle Hjertaas thinks otherwise. She said she grew up being environmentally aware as has scientists as parents. She hopes climate change is a big issue.

“We seem to be at a tipping point as far as public awareness is concerned, if you look at all the wildfires and the high temperatures we’ve had this year.”

She said she hopes more people are seeing how the warming planet affects them.

Liberal candidate for Prince Albert, Estelle Hjertaas. (Liberal Party of Canada)

“It’s hard for people in Saskatchewan to see how the melting Arctic impacts me, [but] once we actually see what [climate change] looks like: we’re going to have these [high] temperatures and then we’re going to have hail in July like we had in Christopher Lake.”

If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau does indeed call a general election Sunday, will climate change boil to the top of the political agenda or will it cool as the smoky skies and high temperatures fade with the onset of Canada’s fall? Will the nation’s post-COVID recovery and economic challenges burn away all other issues?

For Professor Hulbert, things are all connected.

“If we build back our economy and institutions and structures without considering what we need to do to address climate change, we could be making very bad, and what we call in climate science ‘maladaptive decisions’, where we end up making something much worse in ten years from now.’

With files from Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW and The Canadian Press

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glenn.hicks@pattisonmedia .com

Twitter: @princealbertnow

by Glenn Hicks

Will climate change spark interest as an election issue?

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