Every right wing think tank and government in Canada is out this weekend whipping up a fervour over the new climate plan and building their base against the Liberals and climate action. And the left is debating the policy details. Bold? Historic? Insufficient? Weak? #cdnpoli

It strikes me that this is how they win. Drawing clear battle lines. Motivating through fear and anger. We keep replaying this same script - I see it and still struggle to stomach supporting climate policy at this moment in history that is so clearly insufficient 2/

@bruneski once said to me that good climate policy at this moment is often “historic but insufficient”. It seems to be true over and over again. So for the most part ENGO’s are painfully honest - price on carbon yay! Harpers targets?! Insufficient. No ZEV?! What? Etc. 3/

The oil industry is applauding the weakened Clean Fuel Standard. That can’t be good. We have a net zero goal but oil and gas can still expand. What?! We don’t have enough money for the clean infrastructure we need but are still spending $16B for a pipeline we don’t...3/

The truth is its complicated especially in a federation with provinces that are still dependent on fossil fuel exports. This climate plan is likely both bold ($170 a ton by 2030?!) and insufficient (CFS, weakened methane regs, no ZEV etc.). But does honest analysis hurt us? 5/

Our base is confused and couldn’t be more split. People are blockading TransMountain today. Scientists sitting in trees in the cold to be arrested during a pandemic while others write oped a praising this governments climate leadership. 6/

And this confusion weakens us while the far right build massive social media outrage and power with simple memes and messages about the tax grab

I am certainly not claiming to have the answers. Just reflecting. How do we create political space for stronger climate policy, ensure support without selling our souls when the science shows us that we need to bend the curve on emissions and production urgently now?