French Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot has resigned on live radio, in a dramatic announcement that caught even President Emmanuel Macron by surprise.
The former TV presenter and green activist said he had quit after a series of disappointments in attempts to address climate change and other environmental threats.
Mr Hulot said he felt "all alone" in government.
The decision was taken on the spot and, he added, even his wife did not know.
"I am going to take... the most difficult decision of my life," the minister said in an interview on France Inter radio.
"I am taking the decision to leave the government."
UPDATE: Meanwhile, 'Minister' McKenna, I guess you have more important things to do with your time.
I did a post today on Canada's "clean fuel standards." It's a federal initiative to levy a carbon surcharge on fossil fuels on energy producers. The ultimate cost, however, will be passed on to consumers. Coming atop Trudeau's flailing carbon pricing scheme, it's a gutsy move by a government not renowned for its cojones. To me it sounds like the reincarnation of Dion's stillborn Green Shift. We shall see, Lorne. We shall see.
ReplyDeleteI read your post, Mound. My cynical assessment? It is merely an effort by Trudeau to burnish his badly tarnished environmental bona fides, post-pipeline-purchase, going into the next election. As you note, it is not scheduled to go into effect until 2020.
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