Citizen of the World

The environmental movement has been around since the early 1970s, more or less thanks to Maurice Strong.  Thousands of people have subscribed to its principles.  But Strong was the towering figure who transformed principle into action.  From  the beginning, Strong understood the extent of the threat from carbon emissions.  He also understood that nothing would be accomplished unless the environment and the economy were managed together, in a balanced and coordinated way.   And he gave effect to his  beliefs not from the head of a line of demonstrators, but as chairman of some of the most powerful energy industry leaders. The  point was, THEY had the power to make changes.  NOT the demonstrators, who could only pressure them to act.  Strong also understood that traditionally, politicians follow public  opinion.  They  don’t lead.  So, after one aborted attempt to run for office, he never aspired to political office again. 

There has been a disinformation campaign under way for many years, initiated by people who want to debunk environmental leaders like Al Gore and David Suzuki.  The criticism is usually that they have  profited personally from their preaching.  Because Strong has centered his efforts for the last  30 years or so around a think tank based in the West he has also been dismissed as an elitist, new age kook.  But Strong also understood that one answer to climate change is innovation.  Not more innovative consumer products so much as new ways of thinking by people with the power and influence to organize societies to act sustainably. 

Like Pierre Trudeau, Maurice Strong was a Canadian who became a Citizen of the World before that phrase was coined.  In a way, Justin Trudeau’s introduction to the world stage in Paris this week closes a circle that his father and Maurice Strong helped to create.  As a middleweight nation, Canada isn’t going to solve this problem single-handedly.  But we can show others the way with a credibility that warring superpowers have long since surrendered.  If they’re successful, I believe it will be people inspired by the likes of Maurice Strong who will make it happen