The technologies of the late 20th and early 21st centuries have exposed the dishonesty of politicians and news media around the world. Society's response is manifested in a general distrust of traditional sources of information.

Subsequently, a segment of the population finds the evidence for climate change suspect. While it may be convenient to accuse skeptics of ignorance, the fault lies unequivocally with those who habitually enhanced, misrepresented, misinformed and lied by omission.

If political leaders want their electorate to trust their leadership, they must first overcome their own self-interests and demonstrate the depth of their integrity. Even then, they will continue to be encumbered by their profession's reputation.

Climate change is real, and it will eventually make our planet uninhabitable, so we better start seriously considering our alternatives. First, however, we must be wary of politicians and political solutions, because government leaders are driven by lobbyists, polls and self-interests like winning elections.

Governments have spent billions of tax dollars on wind generators, 350,000 of which had been erected around the world by 2018. Some suspect that manufacturers have benefitted significantly more than has the atmosphere.

The inconvenient truth is that wind turbines leave a massive carbon footprint, not only due to the manufacturing of the materials that go into them, but also their transportation, installation, maintenance and eventual disposal. Even before a windmill can be delivered to a site by specially designed and escorted diesel-burning vehicles, installers excavate hundreds of tons of earth and pour a massive concrete base up to 70 feet in diameter, usually supported by pilings up to 40 feet deep. Their installers and maintenance crews drive fossil-fuel powered vehicles, and one day, every one of those wind turbines will become obsolete – and will have to be disassembled and removed.

Electric cars are not the ideal solution either; at least not as things stand today. Dr Graham Conway, principal engineer in the Automotive Division at Southwest Research Institute, has exposed the truth about so-called zero-emission electric vehicles. He begins by pointing out that the carbon output of electric vehicles includes that of the fossil fuels burned to generate electricity, and two thirds of the world's electricity is currently generated by coal and oil. The other impact of electric vehicles is, of course, their creation. While the construction of a conventional vehicle produces six tons of carbon dioxide, the carbon produced to build a battery-driven car is, at present, twelve tons.

None of these facts should deter us from finding solutions to the climate change threat, but they clearly demonstrate the importance of carefully analysing both alternative power proposals and the impacts of political solutions, such as carbon taxes and regulations.

Because Canada's population represents less than one-half of one per cent of the world's population, it cannot significantly impact climate unless it identifies solutions embraced by the entire world.

Whale populations, the number of trees on the planet, and white surfaces all impact our climate, and solar panels, ocean-wave generators and water turbines appear beneficial, but we mustn't stop seeking solutions.

Canada's most effective role is unquestionably in the research and development of solutions which are not driven by corporate and political agendas.