OTTAWA,
November 10, 2006 – The Honorable Rona Ambrose,
Minister of the Environment, is pleased to announce
the appointment of David Chernushenko, Timothy
R. Haig and Dr. Mark Jaccard to the National Round
Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE).
Their appointments have been confirmed by the
Governor in Council and are effective immediately.
“With their knowledge and experience,
Mr. Chernushenko, Mr. Haig and Dr. Jaccard, will
be able to examine the environmental and economic
implications of issues brought to the NRTEE and
offer judicious advice on how to reconcile these
often competing interests with a view to moving
society towards a cleaner and healthier Canada,”
said Minister Ambrose.
The NRTEE is dedicated to exploring
new opportunities to integrate environmental conservation
and economic development, in order to sustain
Canada’s prosperity and secure its future. Its
mandate has recently been enhance to provide advice
to Canada’s New Government with respect to the
Clean Air Regulatory Agenda.
The NRTEE was created in October
1988 by then Prime Minister Mulroney and its independent
role and mandate were enshrined in the National
Round Table on the Environment and Economy Act.
Its 24 members are drawn from distinguished leaders
in business and labour, universities, environmental
organizations, Aboriginal communities and municipalities.
Biographical notes on Mr. Chernushenko,
Mr. Haig and Dr. Jaccard, are attached.
Robert Klager / Director of
Communications / Office of the Minister of the
Environment
Biographical Notes
David Chernushenko
Mr. Chernushenko is an expert on sustainable development,
clean air, and active living. As owner of Green
& Gold Inc. and an associate of Arborus Consulting,
he advises organizations on achieving sustainability
and energy efficiency.
Mr. Chernushenko is also the
co-founder of Clean Air Champions, an active lifestyles
advocacy group. He served on the International
Olympic Committee's advisory Commission on Sport
and the Environment, and has published three books
on sustainable development: Sustainable Sport
Management:-Running an Environmentally, Socially
and Economically Responsible Organization; Greening
Our Games-Running Sports Events and Facilities
that Won't Cost the Earth; as well as Greening
Campuses and their Communities.
Mr. Chernushenko holds a B.A.
in Political Studies from Queen's University and
a Master's in International Relations from the
University of Cambridge.
Timothy R. Haig
Mr. Haig has over 20 years in the field strategic
business development and financing with an emphasis
on environmental technologies and engineering.
Mr. Haig is President and CEO of BIOX Corporation
and Chair of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.
Prior to founding BIOX Corporation in September
2000, Mr. Haig held several senior management
positions with high profile organizations both
in Canada and the UK such as Ove Arup & Partners
and Tarmac, Black and Veatch. In addition, he
was a principal in CMA Associates which promoted,
developed and financed several major wind farms
across Europe.
Mr. Haig received his MBA in
London, England and his degree as an Industrial
Engineer from the Royal Military College of Canada.
Dr. Mark Jaccard
Dr. Jaccard has been professor in the School of
Resource and Environmental Management at Simon
Fraser University, Vancouver, since 1986 – interrupted
from 1992-1997 while he served as Chair and CEO
of the British Columbia Utilities Commission.
Dr. Jaccard has served on the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change and the China Council
for International Cooperation on Environment and
Development. He has chaired several public inquiries
and has advised governments throughout the world.
He has over 80 academic publications. His 2002
book, The Cost of Climate Policy, won the Policy
Research Institute award for best policy book
in Canada and was shortlisted for the Donner Prize.
His 2005 book, Sustainable Fossil Fuels, won the
Donner Prize for best policy book in Canada.
Dr. Jaccard holds a PhD from
the Energy Economics and Policy Institute at the
University of Grenoble in France.
Opening remarks for the United
Nations Climate Change Conference
NAIROBI, Kenya November 6, 2006
Distinguished delegates, Honored guests,Ladies
and gentlemen,
It is my great privilege to
welcome you to the United Nations Climate Change
Conference for 2006. May I begin by offering my
sincere thanks and congratulations to the Government
of Kenya for hosting this important, exciting
and historic conference.
Congratulations to all of us
on our efforts to continue to move forward such
a crucial issue.
I would also like to offer my
congratulations to the incoming President of the
Conference of the Parties, Minister Kivutha Kibwana.
It has been a privilege to sit as President and
on behalf of my country Canada, I want to extend
my congratulations and best wishes for your presidency.
Canada knows the importance of this meeting and
all of us are supportive and fully confident that
Minister Kibwana will provide the leadership and
wisdom needed to guide this Conference to a successful
outcome.
The role of President of the
COP and COP/MOP presents many important challenges,
but it also presents many exciting opportunities
to engage in discussions with leaders from around
the world on their efforts to address the problem
of global climate change and, in particular, their
thoughts on how to move the process forward. Because
that is why we are truly here, to ensure we can
address this global issue together.
In this regard, I would like
to offer a special thanks to the Bureau of COP
11 for their invaluable advice over the last months.
I would also like to offer my congratulations
to Mr. Ivo de Boer on his appointment as executive
secretary.
I had the honor of presiding
at the opening ceremony for our sessions in Bonn,
where we held the first discussions on the future
of international climate change cooperation.
Two new processes were launched
in Bonn that are integral to the discussions we
will be having over the next two weeks.
I was also able to hold informal
consultations concerning the proposal of the Russian
Federation to develop appropriate procedures for
the approval of voluntary commitments. It is encouraging
that we recognize the importance of discussions
around this proposal. It was a special privilege
to host the adaptation workshop for the UNFCCC
in my hometown of Edmonton, Alberta.
Climate change is truly a global
issue and genuine progress is dependent on all
major emitting countries playing a role in finding
a solution. All nations need to work together,
identifying common challenges and sharing ideas.
But, as we all know, our individual circumstances
are unique and finding shared solutions can be
complex. But we must move forward, we must engage
one another in ways we have never done in the
past.
We will need to ask ourselves:
"What has worked to address climate change
and what has not?"
"How can we broaden our
efforts and work more effectively together?"
But perhaps most importantly, we will need to
ask: "how can we find a truly effective global
solution to the threat of climate change?"
Distinguished delegates, Ladies
and gentlemen, in closing, let me once again thank
the Government of Kenya for hosting these sessions
and offer my best wishes to His Excellency Minister
Kivutha Kibwana.
I am sincerely looking forward
to joining you in Nairobi next week. It is my
hope that we will all take full advantage of the
opportunities presented by this Conference to
make genuine progress in our effort to combat
global climate change.
Thank you.
