Absent a Captain Canuck, Quebec's Jean Charest Takes the Stage

On a day when the head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chage was quoted dismissing Canada as "not at the table" in climate negotiatons, Quebec Premier Jean Charest took to the stage at Climate Week in New York.

Flanking actor Hugh Jackman (with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair standing on the other side), Charest looked both oddly out of place - and right in his element.

The latter part is understandable. He has been on this file from the beginning. He attended the Rio summit in 1992 as Canada's Environment Minister. As the Quebec Premier since 2003, he has been a national leader in setting reasonably progressive climate policy.

On Monday, he stressed the importance of that action, in Canada and around the world, calling for leadership and engagement from what he characterized as "sub-national states."

"Don't make the best the enemy of the good." - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair

Climate Week has launched in New York City with contradictory calls to be optimistic about UN climate negotiations culminating in Copenhagen in December, but to keep our expectations low about the strength of any ultimate deal.

The actual "festivities" are all married to what UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called "the largest climate change summit in history." One hundred world leaders are scheduled to gather at the United Nations tomorrow, not likely to further any negotiating positions, but to add their weight to the appearance of a global consensus that climate action - overdue - is on the way.

In honor of this meeting, there are 1,000 Climate Week events booked around the world, 70 in New York City alone. It;s hard to get past a mid-town street corner without bumping into someone mid-pitch on some kind of climate change related issue.

Citing an internal briefing paper for ministers, the Guardian newspaper reported that under current policies it would be "challenging" for Britain to reach a target of 9% for energy renewables such as wind, solar or hydropower - well short of the EU's 2020 target of 20%, but up from the current 2%.

A BBC investigation has found that after more than two years the program has boosted electricity bills and given windfall profits to power companies without achieving its touted objective of slashing carbon emissions.

The prime minister, speaking on BBC TV, said climate-change awareness is gaining momentum with Americans and it’s possible the U.S. may be willing to support an agreement at the G8 summit in June on cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

Britain is trying to get climate change on the agenda of the UN Security Council for the first time. Diplomats have been lobbying for an unprecedented public debate on the issue when Britain takes over presidency of the 15-member council next month.