NLIS 3
September 25, 2001
(Environment)
(Mines and Energy)
 

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers of energy and environment report progress on addressing climate change

Canadian energy and environment ministers met September 24 in Winnipeg to discuss climate change and released a Progress Report on Canada's First National Climate Change Business Plan. Ministers agreed that, while early in the process, they were very pleased with the progress being made on climate change and pledged to continue to work collectively on this important challenge. 

In October 2000, ministers approved the National Implementation Strategy on Climate Change and the First National Business Plan. The progress report outlines where headway has been made in developing and implementing climate change measures and actions outlined in the original plan. Other provinces tabled their progress reports at the meeting.

Ministers also recognized that there is increasing scientific evidence of the extent of climate change, both globally and in Canada as set out in the third report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and therefore directed officials to develop the next national climate change business plan. Business Plan 2002 will retain the same goals and themes as the first plan and given that climate change impacts are being felt now in Canada, particularly in the North, it will be expanded to assess regional impacts and identify adaptation needs. 

As well, ministers discussed international developments on climate change including the implications of the Bonn Agreement and the upcoming international negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol at the Seventh Conference of the Parties (CoP7) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Morocco, from October 29 to November 9, 2001. 

Ministers directed officials to continue analytic and policy work on issues such as a possible domestic emissions trading system, targeted measures, covenants, impacts and adaptation, technology and competitiveness. It was also agreed to discuss sinks, emissions allocation and burden sharing. Discussions on all these specific matters will start no later than May 2002 in order for Canada to consider ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, possibly as early as 2002. 

Ministers also recognized the need for a concerted and collaborative effort by all governments to consult with stakeholders. The consultations must consider Canada's actions within the context of the Kyoto Protocol, the Bonn Agreement and U.S.A. positions on climate change. Quebec will hold its own consultations on conditions under which ratification will occur. 

Ontario extended an invitation to federal, provincial and territorial ministers of environment and energy to continue their meeting next month in Toronto. The Toronto meeting will give provinces and territories an opportunity to provide input to the federal government's position entering international climate change discussions, which are scheduled to begin October 29 in Morocco. The Toronto meeting will also help lay out the process to involve the Canadian public and governments in the development of plans and strategies within the context of the Kyoto Protocol. At the meeting, discussion of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Framework Agreement on Climate Change will continue.

Finally, ministers agreed to meet again in May 2002 to discuss international developments, key analytic and policy issues related to Canada's decision on ratification, and their continuing progress on addressing climate change. 

Media contact:

          Debbie Griff
          National Climate Change Secretariat
          Phone: (613) 943-5814
          E:mail: dgriff@ccs.gc.ca

The Progress Report on Canada's First National Climate Change Business Plan and other national climate change documents are available at: www.nccp.ca

2001 09 25                                      11:45 a.m.