It was deeply disappointing in the last week to see the contrast between the state of climate science in the world and the state of climate policy in Canada.

While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was telling the world that global warming is undeniable and that the implications for humankind may be severe, indeed, new Canadian Environment Minister John Baird, inset, was telling Canadians that any effort to meet Canada's international Kyoto commitments would devastate the Canadian economy.

The December issue of New Scientist pulls no punches in its editorial titled: Canada faces the wrong way on climate change.

As usual it is a subcription-only article, but here's a snippet:

"If there is one nation that should be acutely aware of how damaging climate change could be it is Canada. Its northern wilderness has been romanticised in literature, has inspired great art, and remains a treasured element in the national character. Yet instead of leading the charge to halt global warming, the Canadian government led by Stephen Harper is retreating."

Are the Conservatives slowly thawing their heated opinions on climate change?

There are signs that Canada's Environment Minister Rona Ambrose and the Harper Conservatives may be changing their tune, albeit very slightly. According to today's Globe and Mail Ambrose stated that, "she would support spending federal money on such [Kyoto carbon] credits if they could be verified by a third party and counted toward the government's Kyoto targets." It's something, I guess.