THE "rock star" of modern science: Australian mammalogist fears natural trace gases; takes fossil-fueled book promotion trip to North America.

Canadian political climate strangely cool on environment: Author and scientist

OTTAWA — A best-selling Australian author who is known as the "rock star" of modern science is baffled to see Canada's election campaign side-stepping around climate change and environmental issues.

In an interview with Postmedia News, Tim Flannery, recently appointed as chief commisioner of the Australian government's climate commission, says the environment is one of the top issues everywhere he travels.

But after arriving in North America earlier this month to promote his new book, Here on Earth, he noted from the recent federal leaders debates that Canada's political climate was different than what he saw during a visit three years ago.

"I watched (the debates) with great interest but I was mystified to see that the environment just didn't rank at all," said Flannery, who leads the commission that engages the Australian public in discussions about climate change.

Tim Flannery: Information from Answers.com

Professor Tim Flannery (born 28 January 1956) is an Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist and global warming activist.