For the past two weeks, most of the world’s leaders were meeting in Glasgow, Scotland as part of the 26th United Nations climate change conference, also known as COP26.

UK Prime Minister, in welcoming world leaders to the UK, described the conference as the “world’s moment of truth” and a now or never proposition to tackle climate change and work together to keep global temperatures 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Scientists have said crossing the 1.5-degree threshold risks unleashing far more severe climate change effects on people, wildlife, and ecosystems.

On this episode of inFocus, I’m joined by Merran Smith, the Executive Director at Clean Energy Canada, a climate and clean energy program within the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. It works to accelerate Canada’s clean energy transition by sharing the story of the global shift to renewable energy, clean technology, and sustainable industries. It conducts original research, convenes influential dialogues, informs policy leadership, and drives public engagement.

Merran and I spoke as climate negotiations at COP26 in Glasgow wrap up. We discussed the scale of the challenge the world faces to confront climate change, the opportunities for Canada in the clean energy sector, and the role of public opinion in building consensus and driving action on the energy transition.