(CVRD video)
North Cowichan councillor Bruce Findlay says ‘climate change is natural,’ refuses to ‘live in fear’ of dire predictions
Climate scientist Andrew Weaver describes comments as ‘utter nonsense,’ more reminiscent of Donald Trump
(UPDATE: The motion to "endorse" the staff report on climate projections was defeated in an 8-8 tie vote at the July 22 CVRD board meeting. An amendment to the motion by North Cowichan councillor Mike Caljouw to receive the report for information was similarly defeated. The issue now goes back to staff to prepare a "full report with the implications of the options" for a future committee-of-the-whole meeting.)
North Cowichan councillor Bruce Findlay has used the “soap box” of a Cowichan Valley Regional District meeting to challenge the view that humans are causing climate change.
During debate on a staff report on climate projections, Findlay asserted that “99.96 per cent of climate change is natural.
“The other .04 per cent is potentially human caused. We can’t change it. So let’s figure out ways to protect our people and protect our resources and our infrastructure.”
That statement prompted a pointed response from Andrew Weaver, a climate scientist and professor of earth and ocean sciences at the University of Victoria.
“What bothers me about his words is that he asserts utter nonsense as if it is fact....
“As far as I can tell he has no background or even a basic understanding of the science of global warming.”
(Andrew Weaver)
Weaver, a former Green Party MLA, added: “One would expect elected decision makers to understand that which they are deciding about.
“I believe that he abdicated his responsibility to those he was elected to represent in this regard. And it never looks good when a politician asserts nonsense as fact.
“We expect such rhetoric from Donald Trump, but not from a North Cowichan Councillor.”
Findlay also told the July 8 CVRD committee-of-the-whole meeting: “We spent $200 billion in carbon taxes federally plus how much provincially and locally — and has the climate changed?
“No. It’s gotten worse. So, what have we done? Like, what’s the point? It’s natural. You know, climate change is natural.”
Findlay also said climate models tend to look at worst-case scenarios. “I refuse to live in fear.”
He added he would have liked more information on “cloud feedback” (how clouds, especially in tropical areas, respond to greenhouse gases, including the potential to amplify global warming.)
(Read more: https://cpo.noaa.gov/scientists-find-cloud-feedbacks-amplify-warming-more-than-previously-thought/ )
He concluded by saying: “So, that’s my soap box for today.”
Six Mountains asked Findlay to provide evidence of his references to 99.96 per cent and $200 billion, but he did not respond.
The sixth assessment report of the International Panel on Climate Change (https://www.ipcc.ch/ ) states: “Large-scale indicators of climate change in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and at the land surface show clear responses to human influence consistent with those expected based on model simulations and physical understanding.”
The United Nations states: “A 2021 study found a greater than 99 per cent consensus on human-induced climate change in the peer-reviewed scientific literature (reviewed by experts in the same field prior to publication) - a level of certainty similar to that of the theory of evolution.” (https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/mythbusters )
Findlay and fellow North Cowichan councillor Tek Manhas have previously taken issue with UN influence at the municipal level.
CVRD directors narrowly approved the following motion: “That the 2026 Climate Projections for the CVRD be endorsed and used as the baseline for long term climate adaptation planning and support for long-term regional resilience.”
Findlay, Manhas, and North Cowichan councillor Mike Caljouw voted against, along with Ladysmith Mayor Deena Beeston, and directors Ian Morrison, Ben Maartman, and Mike Wilson.
The motion comes back to the regular board meeting July 22 for a final vote.
Listen to the debate: https://pub-cvrd.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=bf1e4c40-043e-4f56-a71b-a55898b747cb&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English&Item=8858&Tab=attachments
Read the staff report: https://pub-cvrd.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=9145
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— Larry Pynn, July 17, 2026