Trudeau’s climate rhetoric is riveting. So what about the reality? | Martin Lukacs

The danger with the Liberal's climate plan is the same as the emerging UN climate pact: a hugely insufficient agenda sold as positive change

The international praise shows no sign of abating. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's speech on Monday at the United Nations climate conference in Paris - declaring that "Canada is back" - was received with a standing ovation. Everywhere he went during a short appearance he was met by cheers and demands for selfies. A few days before, the New York Times touted his "swift about-face," congratulating him for "reversing course" on climate change.

Amazing what a winning smile and a few small gestures can accomplish. For a start, Trudeau had merely to show up to distinguish himself from Canada's former government. Stephen Harper had skipped last year's UN climate summit in New York (though stopped by for the free dinner). The Conservative government's antagonism to these international negotiations was conveyed not with diplomatic niceties, but the sophistication of a gang of apes.