BEIJING, China -- October
29, 2010 -- Canada's Environment Minister,
Jim Prentice, and China's Minister of Environmental
Protection, Zhou Shengxian, today signed
a renewed memorandum
of understanding (MOU) on environmental
cooperation. The signing ceremony took place
in Beijing.
"Canada has a long
history of successful collaboration with
China and recognizes the global importance
of this great country," said Minister
Prentice. "We will continue building
on this long-standing relationship on all
fronts, including environmental cooperation,
and we will seek to reach mutual understanding
of each others concerns to find common ground
for advancing joint environmental interests
on climate change and other environmental
issues."
The Canada-China MOU
on environmental cooperation will facilitate
collaborative work and the exchange of scientific
information between Environment Canada and
China's Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Of particular interest to Canada are cooperative
activities related to biodiversity, water,
mercury emissions, environmental emergencies
and environmental industries.
Minister Prentice stressed
the tremendous opportunities that exist
for both China and Canada to cooperate in
other areas including national parks, protected
areas and environmental assessment and monitoring
related to heavy oil developments. Both
countries have agreed to develop and implement
a joint action plan for cooperation and
Minister Prentice invited Minister Zhou
Shengxian to visit Canada in mid-November
to sign the action plan.
Through agreements like
the one signed today, the Government of
Canada continues to demonstrate its commitment
to a new era of partnership with one of
the world's most rapidly growing economies
and also demonstrates its leadership on
environmental issues internationally.
+ More
Government of Canada
Invests in Community Environmental Projects
in Manitoba
WINNIPEG, Man. -- October
15, 2010 -- The Honourable Steven Fletcher,
Minister of State for Democratic Reform
and Member of Parliament for Charleswood
- St. James - Assiniboia, on behalf of Canada's
Environment Minister, the Honourable Jim
Prentice, today announced funding from the
EcoAction Community Funding Program for
four new environmental projects in Manitoba.
In total, $212,893 in federal funding will
support local action to reduce pollution,
improve air and water quality, and protect
wildlife and natural habitat.
"As part of the
International Year of Biodiversity, the
Government of Canada is helping communities
and their citizens enjoy cleaner air, water
and land," said Minister Fletcher.
"The EcoAction Community Funding program
is a concrete example of how we are supporting
projects under this program. We believe
on the ground activities like these can
and will make a difference."
"This government
is committed to addressing the environmental
priorities of Canadians," said Minister
Prentice. "We are proud to support
community groups across the country willing
to take concrete action through on-the-ground
environmental projects that will achieve
a more sustainable Canada. Your actions,
large or small, will help to protect the
abundance and variety of life that is part
of our natural heritage."
Of the four projects
announced today, the Green Action Centre's
Climate Friendly School Travel Planning
will work with Manitoba school divisions
to deliver the training and support needed
to implement greener travel plans for students
travelling to and from school.
"A key purpose
of the Climate Friendly School Travel Planning
Project is to expand opportunities for schoolchildren
to walk and bike to school, and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from vehicles," said
Randall McQuaker, executive director of
the Green Action Centre in Winnipeg. "Through
the EcoAction funding for this project,
the Green Action Centre will be able to
provide schools with the volunteer training
and education that will ultimately improve
air quality and lessen traffic congestion
around schools, and improve health and fitness
for kids."
The EcoAction Community
Funding Program is a Government of Canada
initiative that supports projects that rehabilitate,
protect or enhance the natural environment,
and builds the capacity of communities and
individuals in support of a more sustainable
Canada. The four projects announced today
will assist locally-based, non-profit organizations
in initiating actions that result in cleaner
air, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,
cleaner water, and the protection of nature
at the local community level.
More information about
the EcoAction Community Funding Program
is available on Environment Canada's website
at http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction.
