climate change – Page 2 – mackaycartoons

Friday February 13, 2026

February 13, 2026 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday February 13, 2026

Also published on Counterpoint, and Sing Tao USA.

Turning Back Time: Climate Progress in Peril

August 6, 2025

In the midst of political chaos and media distractions, a critical issue is slipping under the radar: the Trump administration’s planned withdrawal of the EPA’s endangerment finding. This move represents a significant rollback of climate progress, grounded in ideological denial of science and driven by fossil fuel interests.

While headlines are dominated by sensational stories—from ballroom scandals and Epstein files to undiplomatic rhetoric and erratic tariff policies—the dismantling of environmental protections deserves urgent attention. The endangerment finding, established in 2009, is not just a bureaucratic detail; it is a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy. It legally mandates the regulation of greenhouse gases, recognizing their threat to public health and welfare. By dismantling it, the Trump administration undermines years of environmental protection, enabling increased emissions from power plants and vehicles.

News: Trump Allies Near ‘Total Victory’ in Wiping Out U.S. Climate Regulation

October 10, 2024

For Canada, the implications are profound. Historically aligned with U.S. vehicle and emissions standards, Canada now faces a potential divergence. As the U.S. steps back, Canada must forge its own path in climate policy. This is not just an environmental imperative but an economic one. As other nations embrace renewable energy, Canada risks falling behind in the global transition to clean technologies.

Globally, while North America regresses, countries like China and India surge ahead, investing in renewables and electric vehicles. These market-driven changes are not just environmentally sound but economically savvy. The shift to clean energy is becoming the cheapest, most reliable option, leaving fossil fuel-dependent nations at a competitive disadvantage.

The Trump administration’s actions are a stark reminder of the power of ideology over science. It is a regressive move that sacrifices environmental stewardship for the benefit of wealthy fossil fuel tycoons. This is not just a U.S. issue; it is a global one, with Canada directly in its path.

Opinion: Don’t let Donald Trump distract you. The rest of the world is finally making real progress on climate change

July 12, 2025

We must redirect our focus and energy to counteract this rollback. Advocacy, legal challenges, and a commitment to sustainable practices are essential. Canada has an opportunity to lead by example, integrating into global clean energy supply chains and setting robust standards that prioritize the planet over profits.

In this critical moment, it is imperative to rise above the noise and acknowledge the reality of climate change. The stakes are too high to ignore. Environmental progress should not be a casualty of political agendas. It’s time to refocus and forge a future where environmental responsibility and economic resilience go hand in hand.

Tuesday December 9, 2025

December 9, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 9, 2025

Poilievre’s Playbook vs. Carney’s Calculus

December 2, 2025

In the intricate dance of Canadian politics, the proposed West Coast pipeline has become a stage where Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, appears to be playing a calculated game. Rather than offering a substantive solution to the complex challenge of getting Alberta oil to tidewater, Poilievre’s recent motions seem more designed to score political points than to navigate the real-world intricacies of energy development and environmental stewardship.

The recent motion by Poilievre to pressure the Liberal government to support pipeline construction is less about advancing the project and more about highlighting perceived Liberal contradictions. By forcing a vote, Poilievre aims to expose divisions within the Liberal ranks, particularly those between MPs concerned with environmental commitments and those focusing on economic growth. However, this approach risks reducing a multifaceted issue to a mere political spectacle.

News: Conservative motion will force Liberals to ‘put up or shut up’ on oil pipeline support: Poilievre

November 14, 2025

The Carney government’s memorandum of understanding with Alberta, though controversial, reflects a nuanced attempt to balance economic interests with environmental responsibilities. Recognizing the complexity of this challenge, the Carney administration has sought to engage both provincial and Indigenous stakeholders, albeit with mixed success. While polls suggest that the Carney government enjoys political support, even in British Columbia, the path forward remains fraught with obstacles — both practical and political.

The reality is that a pipeline project of this magnitude involves more than just political will; it requires genuine consensus, substantial investment, and an unwavering commitment to environmental standards. The Carney government, aware of these challenges, may indeed be engaging in its own brand of political maneuvering, understanding that the pipeline might never materialize. Yet, their approach reflects an acknowledgment of the need for dialogue and compromise, even at the cost of rolling back certain environmental measures.

News: Poilievre puts pressure on Liberal caucus over proposed West Coast pipeline

November 7, 2025

In contrast, Poilievre’s strategy appears more about creating a narrative of Liberal inaction and division, rather than contributing to a feasible path forward. By focusing on optics over substance, Poilievre risks alienating both environmental advocates and those genuinely invested in Canada’s energy future.

Ultimately, the debate over the West Coast pipeline underscores the need for leadership that prioritizes genuine solutions over political grandstanding. As Canada navigates its energy and environmental challenges, the focus should be on fostering collaboration and innovation, rather than perpetuating partisan divides.

Poilievre’s Pipeline Predicament

As the Opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre finds himself in a tough spot. With Prime Minister Carney effectively adopting many conservative stances on energy, Poilievre is scrambling to redefine his position. Carney’s knack for balancing economic concerns with a watered-down environmental stance has attracted those who prioritize the economy over climate action. This shift has blurred the lines between the Conservatives and Liberals on key issues like the environment and energy policy. The pipeline deal, which has even garnered Danielle Smith’s approval, stands as a testament to Carney’s political acumen. It cleverly places the onus on those who oppose it, from David Eby to Indigenous and environmental groups, and even dissenting Liberal MPs. It’s a strategic maneuver that highlights Poilievre’s current dilemma: his latest motion seems more like political posturing than a genuine move in the energy debate.

Tuesday December 2, 2025

December 2, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday December 2, 2025

Also printed in the Toronto Star.

A Pipeline That Lacks Consent, Climate Credibility or a Backstop

May 13 2025

Two recent developments—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s deal-making tour with Mark Carney and Ottawa’s effort to reassure critics after Steven Guilbeault’s resignation—have put a potential new oil export pipeline back in the headlines. But read the coverage carefully (CBC, Nov. 28 and Nov. 30): what looks like momentum is really a series of unanswered questions piled on top of political theater. If this project is to be more than a headline, it must clear three tests it currently fails: Indigenous consent, climate credibility, and bankable finance. Without all three, it’s a mirage that will soak governments, companies and communities with risk.

News: Here’s what to know about Canada’s landmark energy agreement with Alberta https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa-alberta-energy-agreement-pipeline-9.6994715

May 13 2025

First, consent. The MOU signed in Calgary foregrounds Indigenous “engagement” and promises co-ownership options, but it also acknowledges the obvious: key coastal nations and northern B.C. communities remain deeply opposed. As Haisla councillor Maureen Nyce bluntly put it on Rosemary Barton Live, there are “a lot of barriers” and it will be “a very hard sell.” That isn’t obstructionism — it is a sober warning. Projects that touch unceded territories without free, prior and informed consent invite injunctions, prolonged litigation and political blowback. Any credible proponent knows that legal stoppages are not just moral flashpoints but financial project-killers.

October 28, 2021

Second, climate credibility. Ottawa’s public handling of the MOU shows how tight therope-walking has become. Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin insists the MOU does not represent backsliding and frames its provisions as negotiation flexibility. But former environment minister Steven Guilbeault resigned specifically because he viewed the agreement as undermining essential climate measures — an unmistakable signal that Canada’s climate policy coherence is fraying. The MOU carves out pauses to the oil-and-gas emissions cap and offers Alberta time-limited exemptions tied to a new carbon-pricing deal. For many observers and investors that smells like regulatory arbitrage: relying on unproven carbon-capture promises (Pathways) and voluntary methane targets is not the same as legally binding, independently verifiable emissions reductions. If Canada wants to persuade domestic critics and global capital that this pipeline fits in a net-zero transition, it must lock climate outcomes into enforceable, transparent rules — not paper over them with a handshake.

News: Danielle Smith’s pipeline clears another hurdle after deal with Mark Carney. Now, who will build it? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-mark-carney-oil-pipeline-west-long-journey-alberta-bc-9.6995557

November 4, 2023

Third, finance and risk allocation. The CBC coverage makes clear the single biggest practical obstacle: no private sponsor has put a name on the dotted line. The ghost of Trans Mountain’s runaway costs looms large. No prudent firm will take Trans Mountain‑style political, litigation and demand risk without concrete downside protection — long‑term shipper contracts, government backstops, or ironclad producer commitments. Yet public appetite to socialize those risks is limited, and institutional investors increasingly scrutinize ESG and stranded‑asset exposure. Expecting a private sector leap of faith into a multibillion-dollar, high‑stakes project with shaky regulatory cover and vocal local opposition is unrealistic.

Put those three failures together and you get the kernel of the problem: this pipeline asks too much of too many at once. It expects coastal First Nations to accept a coast-to-coast industrial incursion on the basis of promises; it expects international markets and financiers to underwrite massive capex while national climate policy is perceived as negotiable; and it expects provincial and federal governments to absorb political fallout with little tangible payoff. None of that is a recipe for success.

News: Environment minister disputes Guilbeault’s claim that Canada is cutting climate policies https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/environment-minister-steven-guilbeault-canada-climate-policies-9.6998023

November 30, 2023

So what would make the project credible? Start by making consent meaningful: negotiated, legally robust agreements with affected Nations that include co-ownership, governance roles and explicit vetoes over marine components. Second, transform climate promises into enforceable obligations: independent methane monitoring, clear CCUS performance milestones with financial penalties for failure, and legally binding sectoral emissions trajectories that align with Canada’s 2030/2050 commitments. Third, reframe the finance question: require producer commitments and shipper contracts up front, use limited and transparent public de‑risking only where it demonstrably lowers private capital costs without socializing all downside, and ensure insurers and lenders see an unambiguous regulatory regime.

If those three conditions can’t be met, the honest conclusion is this project shouldn’t proceed. Transition is hard, and economic dislocation is real — but pretending that a politically fragile, technically fraught pipeline solves those problems will only deepen distrust and leave taxpayers and communities holding the bag. Canada’s credibility — on reconciliation, on climate, and on prudent public finance — is worth more than a mirage on the coast.

Tuesday September 9, 2025

September 9, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday September 9, 2025

Steering the Green Transition Amidst Global Policy Shifts

August 6, 2025

In recent years, the global push towards a green energy transition has been met with both enthusiasm and challenges. While political shifts, such as those under the Trump administration in the United States, have temporarily redirected focus toward fossil fuels with slogans like “drill, baby, drill,” the broader movement towards renewable energy continues unabated. This is evident not only in the U.S., where states have taken the lead in pursuing aggressive renewable targets, but also globally, as countries grapple with the dual demands of economic growth and environmental responsibility.

Canada, like many nations, finds itself at a crossroads. The recent decision to pause its ambitious electric vehicle (EV) sales mandate is a reflection of the complex landscape in which policymakers operate. As highlighted in discussions from sources like The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail, this pause doesn’t signify a retreat from green energy goals but rather an adjustment to ensure economic and social feasibility.

News: Mark Carney’s decision to pause Canada’s EV sales mandate had to happen, industry experts say

June 21, 2024

The challenges associated with a rapid transition to EVs are manifold. Firstly, EVs remain expensive and heavy, posing a barrier to widespread consumer adoption. The infrastructure required to support a predominantly electric vehicle fleet—ranging from charging stations to grid enhancements—demands significant investment and time. Additionally, the increased demand for electricity could strain existing power grids, necessitating upgrades and innovative solutions.

Moreover, the pace of technological advancement means that today’s solutions might be tomorrow’s relics. The potential for a shift to hydrogen-fuelled vehicles or other emerging technologies suggests that flexibility and adaptability are crucial in any green strategy. Policymakers must balance immediate environmental goals with the economic realities faced by consumers and industries alike.

A critical aspect of this transition is levelling the playing field regarding government subsidies. Currently, fossil fuel industries globally receive substantial subsidies, outpacing those for renewable energy. This imbalance skews market realities and hinders the economic viability of green alternatives. By phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and increasing support for renewable energy, governments can encourage innovation and investment in sustainable technologies, making them more competitive and accessible to consumers.

Opinion: Ottawa should pull the plug on EV mandates

September 15, 2020

Despite these challenges, the global momentum towards renewable energy remains strong. China, for instance, while still expanding coal capacity, leads the world in solar panel production, demonstrating a dual approach that balances current energy needs with future sustainability. Similarly, Canada’s decision to pause its EV mandate should be seen in the context of a broader commitment to environmental progress, allowing time to address practical hurdles while maintaining the ultimate goal of a greener future.

The journey towards a sustainable energy future is neither linear nor uniform. It requires nuanced strategies that consider local contexts, technological advancements, and global policy shifts. Canada’s decision to adjust its EV mandate is a pragmatic step in a long-term strategy, reflecting the broader global narrative: the green transition is ongoing and necessary, but it must be pursued with both ambition and realism, supported by equitable government policies that foster an environment where sustainable energy can thrive.

Lost in transition

It’s really disappointing to see where we are today. The transition to green energy is something driven by solid science, clearly showing that carbon emissions are heating up our planet in ways that are reshaping climate patterns. We’re talking devastating storms, those crazy atmospheric rivers, droughts fuelling wildfires, rising sea levels, and even impacts on human disease and migration. Yet here we are, with the fossil fuel industry having successfully lobbied its way into a cozy spot under a very fossil-fuel-friendly Republican administration led by Donald Trump, which seems to be turning its back on renewable energy progress.

This isn’t a new story, unfortunately. We’ve seen this cycle before. Just think back to Ronald Reagan, who literally took down the solar panels off the White House that Jimmy Carter put up in the 1970s. That act was symbolic of decades of right-leaning administrations, and to some extent even Democratic ones, dragging their feet on real climate action. Bush, Trump, and others have chipped away at the progress we so desperately need.

Because of this back-and-forth, we’ve lost precious time. The things climate scientists warned us about decades ago are happening now, and in many cases, they’re worse than anyone predicted. It’s a real wake-up call that we can’t keep delaying this transition to green energy.

Tuesday July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday July 8, 2025

Pipelines Over Prairie Fires: Ford and Smith’s Climate Dodge

June 26, 2025

Canada aims to protect its economy from renewed trade hostility under President Trump, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have moved quickly to present themselves as defenders of Canadian jobs and interprovincial trade. Today in Calgary, they signed two MoUs centred on energy infrastructure and cross‑province cooperation. But let’s be clear: this is climate dodge, not leadership.

News: Danielle Smith and Doug Ford to sign agreements on energy, trade in Calgary today

The premiers framed their agendas around tariffs and trade barriers. Ford told Ford that “the best way to protect Canadian workers from tariffs and economic uncertainty…is to build infrastructure to get our resources to new markets.” Smith echoed this by criticizing net‑zero rules in a conversation with Prime Minister Mark Carney. All talk of pipelines, rails, and deregulation. All with zero mention of Canada’s environment or climate.

May 31 2025

That omission is not just tone‑deaf—it’s dangerous. Alberta isn’t a hypothetical victim of climate change. It’s in crisis. The province is experiencing an eight‑year drought that has drained pastures, ravaged farms, and deepened competition for water resources. Its neighbour, Saskatchewan, is declaring states of emergency in multiple rural municipalities—Maple Creek, Fox Valley, Enterprise and Waverley—because nothing is growing, ranchers are hauling cattle hundreds of kilometres for feed, and crop yields are collapsing.

News: ‘Nothing grew’: 4 southwest Sask. municipalities declare states of emergency due to drought

Meanwhile, widespread wildfires across the Prairies have scorched millions of hectares. Saskatchewan alone has burned over 1.4 million hectares as of early July 2025, while Alberta is approaching 700,000 hectares . These “zombie fires”—wildfires carried through winter into spring—are a hallmark of a climate system gone off-kilter. And yet, Smith and Ford pitch more pipelines.

January 17, 2025

The public knows this is a sham. Readers have rightly labeled the MoUs a “nothing‑burger,” designed for cameras at the Stampede—not for solving climate or economic threats. Others described Ford and Smith as caring “nothing about the environment” while championing fossil-fuel projects.

Yet the premiers persist, framing climate action as a threat to autonomy and jobs. But this is a false choice. Environmental stewardship is economic stewardship. Building climate resilience creates jobs, stabilizes rural livelihoods, and gets our exports through ports and over borders with a clean‑energy brand.

Canada’s path forward demands far more than photo ops. We need enforceable emissions targets, transition strategies for workers, and water‑secure agriculture. We need to treat canals and pipelines not as relics of a fossil past, but as conduits for renewables, EVs and critical minerals. We need provinces that don’t just say “no” to Ottawa—but say “yes” to the future.

Because if our leaders can ignore a drought that’s breaking farms, wildfires that are burning millions of hectares, and water conflicts that threaten communities…they’re not solving a problem. They are part of it.

Jurassic Premiers

Lately, it feels like politicians of all stripes are tripping over themselves to not talk about the climate crisis—especially with the most climate-denying administration now back in the White House. Even progressive leaders seem afraid to say “climate change” out loud, as if it’s a banned phrase. And the media? You can almost feel the fatigue—eight-year droughts in the Prairies, towns wiped out by wildfires, catastrophic floods that kill dozens… and still, the silence is deafening. Don’t say “atmospheric river” unless you want to be accused of wokeness.

That’s what makes this meeting between Premiers Smith and Ford in Calgary feel like a summit of Canada’s top climate laggards. No real plans, just photo ops and fossil fuel fanfare while the country literally burns and dries out around them.

If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, where I share weekly editorial cartoons every Saturday morning. Substack is a crucial platform for me amidst the uncertainties of being a staff cartoonist, especially given recent layoffs and newspaper closures affecting our field. Check out my making-of animated editorial cartoon for July 8, 2025, below!