Politics meets science: in November 2005, a gathering in Montreal will try to set the agenda for what happens on the global warming file after the Kyoto Protocol.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita slammed into the Gulf Coast of the United States in the late summer of 2005. The shorelines of Louisiana and Texas were devastated by the two mega-storms. So unusual was the fact that two Category 5 hurricanes would follow a similar path just a few weeks apart that people started looking for a reason.

Was this caused by global warming brought on by our wasteful, energy-burning habits? The definitive answer is yes, no, and perhaps.

Yes, global warming is probably a factor in making tropical storms more intense.

No, because typhoons, cyclones, and hurricanes go through cycles of frequency and we've just passed through a quiet spell.

Perhaps, because global warming trends can only be seen through periods lasting many thousands of years. Looking at a snapshot of what happens over a few decades tells us nothing about long-term changes.

The point is that the science of global warming is inconclusive. There's no doubt our planet in warming up. There is doubt as to whether and to what extent human activity is the culprit.

The doubt about the science of global warming does not stop people from lining up on one side or the other. Environmentalists have passionately embraced the notion that humans are the villain in the story. They have peppered us with warnings that the sky is failing and that the end is near.

On the other side, industrialists find enough contradictions in the science to support their case that we should not panic. Let's not get stampeded into taking action we might regret.

So far, it seems the greens have the upper hand in the debate. The public thinks "something" ought to be done. Politicians, ever ready to lead the crowd where it wants to go, have come down on the side of "action." So, we have the Kyoto Protocol.

Ottawa is one the most fervent supporters of the Kyoto Protocol. However, it has been noted by others that our support is more verbal than anything else. Eight years after our leaders jumped onto the Kyoto bandwagon Canada is still increasing its output of greenhouse gases.

As we welcome the world's Kyoto experts to Montreal for a follow-up conference we can hope they will be gracious guests and not point out the shortcomings of their host.