Andrew Weaver is a climate scientist, former leader of the BC Green Party, and one of Canada’s most prominent voices on climate policy.

Widely reported to have endorsed John Rustad and the BC Conservatives’ climate plan during the last provincial election, Weaver begins by pushing back on that framing, using it as a starting point to discuss what it means to engage across political lines in an increasingly polarized environment.

We explore his path from science into politics, his time holding the balance of power in British Columbia, and the challenges of translating technical expertise into public policy.

Weaver argues that climate change is real and serious, but that framing it as an emergency can sometimes undermine practical solutions. He outlines his support for approaches like carbon capture and decarbonized oil, and reflects on why some of his strongest opposition has come from activist groups rather than industry.

Running through the conversation is a broader concern about the breakdown of public discourse, and the growing difficulty of having honest, good-faith conversations across political and ideological divides.

Andrew Weaver is a climate scientist and professor in the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria. He previously held the Canada Research Chair in Climate Modelling and Analysis, served as a lead author on multiple United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scientific assessments, and has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed papers. He was elected MLA for Oak Bay–Gordon Head in 2013, later led the BC Green Party, and served in the Legislature until 2020. He is also the author of two books: Keeping Our Cool and Generation Us, and continues to write on climate solutions and public policy through his website.

Recorded March 18, 2026

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Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.