Climate Action Network International has awarded its satirical «fossil of the day» title to absent leaders of wealthy countries, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, for skipping the first week of the UN climate conference COP31 in Turkey. The award also went to leaders of Germany, France, Japan and Denmark, all of whom were absent from the gathering.
The network has handed out the award since 1999 to draw attention to governments it considers obstructing climate action. The group argues that leaders' summits set the political direction for the negotiations and help build the trust needed for multilateral cooperation, which it says is under growing strain. Its criticism of absent leaders reflects concern that high-level engagement is slipping just as the international process needs momentum.
Canada was represented at COP31 by Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin during the first week. Carney's own schedule took him to Ottawa for a Remembrance Day ceremony, followed by a 10-day overseas trip that includes summits in Dublin, Manila, Phnom Penh and Shenzhen. That itinerary does not include COP31. Carney also spent time in Montreal hosting a discussion with the culture sector.
The award comes as critics are expected to focus on Canada's recent policy shifts on climate. Since taking office, Carney has rolled back the consumer carbon tax, cancelled the electric vehicle sales mandate and dropped the emissions cap on the oil and gas sector. Each move has drawn criticism from environmental groups that say Canada is weakening its commitments.
A report from the federal environment commissioner also raised questions about Canada's approach to coal. The government had pledged in 2021 to ban thermal coal exports, but the commissioner found that work on that ban ended in 2024 without a documented directive. Ottawa has said the coal work was only «paused». The commissioner's report states that the work formally ended in August 2025 as part of budget cuts.
Canada is not the only country to have drawn the award. The group handed the same title to Canada at an earlier UN climate conference in Brazil. New Zealand received it on Monday over its methane target cuts and a change to its law that shields corporations from climate litigation. The network also noted that the United States has abandoned the Paris Agreement entirely.
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