Canada election: Charities warned against climate change ads

Canada's election watchdog has warned environmentalists that saying climate change is real could break the law, BBC reports. The issue arose because one party running in October's election denies climate change is a threat.

That has led Elections Canada to warn groups that running paid advertisements about climate change could be considered partisan activity. Advocates called the guidance "ludicrous" and say it will dampen urgent climate discussions.

The UN has called for decisive political action by 2020 to put an end to climate change.

"The guidance is extremely troubling," Stephen Cornish, the CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation, an environmental charity, told the BBC.