Troubling Evidence
The Harper government’s approach to climate science research in Canada
Public understanding of the gravity of the threat of climate change, and of the need for government policies to cut emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), has been driven by scientific research more than by anything else. The world’s major National Science Academies have jointly called on governments to take urgent action to cut emissions. But in Canada, the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has failed to take significant action to cut GHG emissions. Although it says that it accepts the science of climate change, the government’s inaction seems to suggest the opposite. We therefore decided to investigate the Harper government’s approach to climate science research in Canada.