A number of media outlets have had reported on the draft of the next IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) assessment report. The report itself will not be officially released until next year. While there may not be any substantial changes in the general results and message between now and then, we should still hold off on reporting anything until the official report is released. It is like reporting the results of a paper that it still undergoing review (for you scientists) or circulating a story or column before it has been vetted by your editor (for you writers) .

And in Canada, the provinces are starting to fight back. Quebec pledged to abide by Kyoto even if the federal government does not (cover on this morning's Globe and Mail). Quebec has always been in a good position to meet Kyoto - because of plentiful opportunities to expand hydropower - so the move is not surpising. It does show that the federal decision to balk on Kyoto is rapidly turning into a real political nightmare for the ruling Conservatives. The Conservatives' best hope for a majority in the next election is to gain more seats in Quebec. Could the provinical decisions influence the federal government to reverse its anti-Kyoto stance? Or might we look back one day and conclude the Kyoto decision was the Conservatives' downfall?