Canada’s Election and the Trump Effect: Prioritizing Climate Change in News Media

Event Details:

With the 2025 Canadian federal election in full swing, discussing climate change and how it intersects with other issues like trade and cost of living is critical. Yet, President Donald Trump’s ability to "flood the zone" with controversy and spectacle often drowns out urgent issues like climate change, diverting media attention and public discourse. At the same time, the Trump Administration’s retreat from clean energy presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canada to lead in the trillion-dollar clean energy transition. So why aren’t we talking about it more?

SFU CERi’s latest media analysis shows that while party platforms and polling dominate coverage, climate change is underreported in Canadian election coverage. This event will present our media monitoring report, highlighting key findings and 10 recommendations to improve climate communication during Canadian elections.

Join us on April 16th for a virtual roundtable discussion with climate journalists and climate communication experts on the role of media in shaping climate discourse and the potential of Canada’s role in leading the energy transition in the era of Trump.

Speakers

Kamyar Razavi is a veteran journalist and television news producer.  Most recently, he worked as an investigative correspondent covering climate, environment and energy transition-related themes and currently teaches about the intersection of environmental science and communication. 

Morgan Krakow is a journalist and researcher who has worked for The Washington Post and the Anchorage Daily News, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the SFU School of Communication, focusing on climate journalism.

Rachel Doran is the Executive Director of Clean Energy Canada and brings nearly 20 years of experience in policy, politics and law to advance clean energy solutions for Canada’s sustainable economy. She is a frequent commentator on energy policy, the electric vehicle market, and the broader energy transition.  Prior to joining Clean Energy Canada, Rachel occupied numerous roles in two governments, serving mostly recently as senior special advisor on Climate and Director of Legal Affairs to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. 

Facilitator: Dr. Tara Mahoney is the Research and Engagement Manager at SFU CERi and an Instructor of Climate Change Communication in SFU Continuing Studies.