Whoa whoa whoa! Back up the train! Hey, world did you see what happened last year in Montreal? Did it look like Canada was planning on strangling the life out of the Kyoto Protocol at the UN's Conference on Climate Change?

Okay, granted that Canadians elected a conservative minority last week. A conservative minority that may or may not support Kyoto. And they may or may not accept the view that human emissions of CO2 are contributing to global warming. I agree: that's the bad news.

But there are positive things about the Canadian federal election that might benefit Canada's response to climate change.

Here are the positives:

1. The conservative minority will have to work with the other major Canadian parties, all of whom support honouring our Kyoto commitment.
   
   
2. The fact that Canada currently holds the presidency of the UNFCCC will force the conseratives to weigh in on climate issues early, and with international attention focused on their actions.
   
   At the very least, we'll quickly learn where they stand. However, I'm hoping that this pressure will force the conservatives take a progressive approach on climate change and push for viable cuts to our steadily rising emissions.
   
   
3. Finally, in the end we, the Canadian public, have a chance to make ourselves heard. Particularly, as the conservatives step up into office, we can send a clear message that a majority of the public supports Kyoto and wants to see Canada honour its international commitment!

So that's my optimistic take on the conservatives and Kyoto. Don't count us out yet! The situation is much more nuanced and flexible than the media might protray it.

And don't forget, the United States (under a decidedly anti-Kyoto administration) has done more to cut its greenhouse gas emissions than Canada ever did under the Protocol. Either way you cut it, liberals or conservatives, the simple message is: it's time to get our act together.