In my opinion, we should be ending these subsidies for yesterday’s economy and presenting a compelling vision for the next economic transformation. We must also overcome the toxic partisanship that has come to dominate the climate debate.

People forget that British prime minister Margaret Thatcher was one of the first global leaders to sound the alarm about climate change. She recognized that her country’s prosperity could not be divorced from the realities of science. This is a stark contrast from the anti-science rhetoric on the right today.

Likewise, there are many on the left who refuse to even talk with those on the right about climate solutions.

The transformation needed to combat the climate crisis will require broad societal support across ideological, religious, economic and cultural divides.

And yet when Elizabeth May proposed an inner all-party climate cabinet to find urgent solutions, some harshly criticized her for even suggesting we talk with conservatives about fighting the climate crisis. How can we create the positive change we need if we remain preoccupied with battle lines?

I sincerely hope the young people who pushed to make this the climate change election do not lose faith in adults.

I think back to the young leaders who organized a climate hall in Guelph last spring, confronting the MP, the mayor and myself with questions about the climate crisis. I think about Greta Thunberg’s raw courage to take her message to the heart of oil and gas country last week.

These are acts of inspiration from our young people, and as adults, we owe them so much more than what we saw this election.

We have climate solutions that will invigorate our economy and keep our planet livable. And we do not need a pipeline to pay for them. We just need the political will to embrace them.

I write this on the eve of the federal election. I hope whoever forms the next government will have the courage to listen to our children and grandchildren.

Their future is in our hands.

Mike Schreiner is Guelph's MPP and the leader of the Ontario Green party.