‘I’m still very concerned about this global warming thing’ said Big O ‘I’ve always believed I was the chosen one to lead the world to a carbon-free paradise’

‘That’s all very well Big O’ I said ‘but the folks just don’t want it. They think global warming is simply the result of too much hot air being generated by the climate scientists and Al Gore’

‘But the EU has got a cap and trade scheme’ said Big O

‘You don’t seriously think that the EU is committed to cutting carbon emissions do you?’ I asked ‘The problem is that Greece, Portugal and the rest are in an economic mess because they don’t emit enough carbon’

‘But someone should be telling those countries’ said Big O ‘that they’re on the right track. Now all they’ve got to do is introduce a new wave of green jobs and green technology’

‘That requires huge investment’ I reminded him ‘Solar power stations may be green but they don’t grow on trees’

‘New Zealand’s got a cap and trade scheme’ said Big O ‘and Australia’s about to introduce a carbon tax’

‘I know’ I said ‘but why would they bother? Between them they account for less than two percent of worldwide carbon emissions. It’s like the Bahamas taking action to solve the world’s economic problems”

‘China and India have promised to take action on climate change’ said Big O

‘You have to be joking’ I said ‘If we’re not careful China will soon overtake us as the world’s leading carbon emitter. It’s vital we retain our lead role in causing global warming’

‘What do you think I should say about action on climate change during the election campaign?’ asked Big O

‘As little as possible’ I said ‘Say you’re working on longer-term strategic solutions’

‘But the science is telling me I should be taking action immediately’ said Big O

‘Look’ I said ‘you should have got the drift during the record snowstorms last winter. The Canadian government has just been elected with a huge majority after promising not to even think about introducing a carbon tax or a cap and trade’

‘But’ said Big O ‘if Canada and the US do nothing then there can be no effective action on climate change no matter what the rest of the world does’

‘Right on Big O’ I said ‘So you’ve got a choice. Do you want to be re-elected or do you want to go down in history as the global warrior who lost the presidency because he was hung up about saving the world from global warming’

‘I thought it was the economy that was going to stuff my re-election chances’ said Big O ‘rather than global warming’

‘Let’s be clear’ I said ‘Your re-election chances depend on you taking the heat out of the economy but not out of the weather’