07/09/2005 - The Honourable
Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Environment
Minister, concluded meetings with Indian Ministers
and experts, announcing that Canada and India
have agreed to further their environmental
cooperation.
Minister Dion visited India from September
4 to 6, consulting parties on Canada’s preparations
for the November United Nations Climate Change
Conference to be held in Montreal. The Minister
met with India’s Environment and Forests Minister
A. Raja, India’s of State for Non-Conventional
Energy Sources Minister Vilas Muttemwar, Planning
Commission member, Dr. Kirit S. Parikh and
International Panel on Climate Change Chair
Dr. R.K. Pachauri.
“Our meetings have strengthened our relationship
on environmental cooperation,” said Minister
Dion. “As one of the world’s rapidly emerging
economies and a signatory of both the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
and the Kyoto Protocol, India is fundamental
partner to building a successful long term
global approach for action on climate change.”
"Canada will continue working in the
coming months to ensure that nations are well
prepared for the Montreal conference and ready
to discuss future international cooperation
on climate change,” added Minister Dion. “We
have spoken with our Indian counterparts and
are looking forward to working together. India's
active participation is key to the success
of both the conference and future global climate
change action.”
Minister Dion’s meeting with Indian Environment
and Forests Minister Raja also focused on
furthering the commitment to deepen environmental
cooperation, including technology promotion
as expressed on January 18, 2005 in a joint
declaration by the Prime Ministers of India
and Canada. It was agreed that Canada and
India will continue discussions toward establishing:
• a Memorandum of Understanding on Clean
Development Mechanism Projects (the Kyoto
Protocol established the Mechanism to encourage
developed countries like Canada to invest
in projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
in emerging and developing countries including
India to benefit the global environment);
and
• a Canada-India environment forum including
green technology development.
Both parties agreed to announce further progress
toward these goals during Minister Raja’s
visit to Ottawa September 23-24 for an international
meeting of environment ministers hosted by
Minister Dion.
