This week:

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  • In the wake of an editorial in the international science journal Nature describing current Canadian federal policy as “war on science”, 120 climate scientists signed an unprecedented political letter urging Canadians to vote strategically against the federal Conservative Party. A lead author on that letter, University of Victoria climatologist Dr. Andrew Weaver, speaks with host Jordan Poppenk about how the fight for message has damaged the field of environmental science – and indeed science more generally – culminating in the muzzling of scientists at Canada’s foremost environmental agency, Environment Canada, the disbanding of Canada’s science advisor to the Prime Minister and termination of climate research funding.
  • Political correspondent Danny Leskiw speaks with Green Party spokesperson John Bennett about the Green Party’s environmental platform for the 2008 election.

The headlines in brief:

  • A report from the University of Toronto warns that new projects to help the Albertan tar sands will have a serious detrimental effect on the Great Lakes;
  • In a speech this week, one of Ontario’s experts on agriculture policy warned that new developments could eat up all of the sustainable farm land in the GTA within five years.
  • Alberta’s auditor general has spoken out against the province’s climate change initiatives, claiming they are not based on available data;
  • Scientists now estimate a global sea rise of one metre this century.
  • An international study reports that one quarter of land mammals and one third of marine mammals face the threat of extinction immediately.
  • A United Nations food agency has called for the immediate review of
    global biofuel subsidies and policies.

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