Canadian City cancels Climate Skeptic Dr. Patrick Moore from sustainability conference

https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/city-cancels-patrick-moore-from-sustainability-conference

The City of Regina is axing self-described “sensible environmentalist” Patrick Moore from its sustainability conference this spring.

During a press conference at city hall Friday afternoon, Coun. Mike O’Donnell said Moore’s keynote speech has become a detraction to the overall objective of the Reimagine Conference, which is to foster meaningful discussion around how to make the City’s facilities and operations 100 per cent renewable by 2050.

Responding to the news of his removal, Moore tweeted “I have been de-platformed, cancelled, and round-filed by the great City of Regina for daring to question the God-Given wisdom of the catastrophists. Actually, I don’t want to be part of such a stupid exercise. It’s impossible to make a city 100% renewable.”

Conference Co-Chairs O’Donnell and Coun. Joel Murray made the decision to remove Moore from the agenda after social media backlash prompted Mayor Michael Fougere to ask organizers to reconsider Moore’s role in the conference.

In a media release corresponding with O’Donnell’s availability, the city said, “The purpose of the Reimagine Conference is not to spark debate about climate change.

“We hope that the adjustment to the agenda will refocus discussions back to the true intent of this gathering.”

Moore is on the board of directors of the CO2 Coalition, an organization that promotes the idea creating carbon dioxide is beneficial to the world. He has been widely criticized for calling the climate crisis fake news and fake science. “There is no climate crisis,” he said on an episode of Fox & Friends last year.

Moore denied he’s a climate change denier. While he agrees the climate is changing, “I don’t agree that we have any serious evidence that CO2 is actually the main driver of the whole world’s climate,” he said. “We do have an effect on the climate, at least at that local level. At a global level there is no actual hard evidence that we are in charge of the global climate,” he contended.

Moore was set to receive a $10,000 speaking fee, plus $1,400 for expenses, to speak but the contract is now under review.

The total cost of the conference is budgeted at $125,000. According to a news release from the city, the event will gather community leaders, elected officials and business representatives to discuss energy management and future sustainability.

The Reimagine Conference is meant to help guide the development of the city’s Environmental Sustainability Framework, a plan to reach city council’s target to become a fully renewable city by 2050. The cost to register for the conference is $300. Residents interested learning more can visit regina.ca/reimagine.