Canada's economic development model is on a collision course with the urgent need for global climate action. Worldwide, extreme weather events from drought to floods to powerful storms and record-breaking temperatures are making a powerful statement that climate change can no longer be denied.

Hurricane Sandy, which rudely interrupted a U.S. election in which candidates ignored climate change, pushed climate action back onto the U.S. policy agenda. Costs are piling up, with one recent estimate of $1.2 trillion per year in global damages already from climate change and related environmental costs from a carbon-intensive economy.

Last week's report from B.C.'s Auditor General dealt a huge blow to the credibility of carbon offsets and claims that B.C. had achieved a state of "carbon neutral government." Coverage of the AG's report was coloured by accusations from the Pacific Carbon Trust, the Crown corporation created to buy and sell B.C.