The Oak Bay climate scientist turned politician returns to his roots and reclaims his role as an outspoken expert on the topic.

Former MLA of Oak Bay Gordon Head and leader of the BC Green Party, Andrew Weaver first launched his website while leaving a legitimate position, speeches and essays as the first Green Party elected to Canada’s provincial legislature. I moved to my current focus and returned to writing. , to the site.

“I have no intention of deleting past posts on this site because I believe it is important for elected officials to preserve public records for archival/historical purposes,” he said in a year. I mentioned it in my last post above.

Weaver archived the website and associated Facebook page in 2020, when the state elections that marked the end of his second term as MLA were announced. Weaver served his second term and did not seek re-election in 2020. He resigned as party leader earlier that year.

Prior to that, his primary role was as a professor at the University of Victoria’s Department of Earth and Marine Sciences.

“I’m concerned about the public discourse on climate. It’s just in the groove,” Weaver said. “What we need is a sober solution.

To that end, I’m back at UVic teaching the 2nd and 3rd year courses while also getting back to writing on my blog (and associated Facebook page).

“I have published[academic papers]very extensively. I don’t need more science to figure out what the problems are. I need the solutions, so my focus is on them.” said Weaver.

He previously wrote Keeping Our Cool: Canada in a Warming World (Penguin, 2008) and is currently working on the already titled A Climate for Hope.

The title epitomizes the approach he has taken in this field over the years. From 1985 to about 2013, he clashed with “so-called naysayers” who claimed climate change wasn’t happening. They are now hard to find, he said. All environmental challenges, he said, can be viewed through his two lenses: despair and opportunity. he chooses the latter.

“Extremism does not advance solutions,” said Weaver, who is critical of the far right and far left.

The key is to find a joint interest in doing something. For example, more walking, biking and even skateboarding to work means active transport, which reduces noise, pollution and fuel costs, while also having a positive impact on health and related costs. The wide range of benefits of the instrument.

“If you focus on talking about the positives and co-benefits, you can really bring people along.”

The blog has been renamed along the way, but can be found at www.aclimateforhope.com.

c.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca

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