CANCUN, Mexico -- December
11, 2010 -- Negotiations under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change wrapped up earlier this morning at
COP16 with the adoption of the Cancun
Agreement.
"We came here to
advance a balanced package, and we achieved
that goal," said Minister Baird. "We
are coming out of Cancun with progress and
outcomes reflecting the interests of Canadians,
and every country represented here."
The Cancun Agreement
anchors the pledges inscribed in the Copenhagen
Accord, which included the establishment
of a Green Climate Fund that will be instrumental
in mobilizing the financing needed to tackle
this global challenge. We also made progress
on the REDD+ mechanism to address global
deforestation, the establishment of a technology
transfer mechanism, and the details of an
adaptation framework.
This outcome is the
result of two weeks of negotiations in which
Canada played a key role. "Our negotiating
team worked extremely hard and I am proud
of the work we have accomplished,"
said Guy Saint-Jacques, Canada's Chief Negotiator
and Ambassador for Climate Change. "We
have laid good groundwork for further progress
in these complex negotiations."
We would like to recognize
the leadership of Her Excellency, Mrs. Patricia
Espinosa. The success of this year's Conference
was in large part due to a strong Mexican
Presidency.
Late last year, over
120 world leaders agreed on a path forward
in the global effort to address climate
change which culminated in the Copenhagen
Accord. Canada has followed through on its
commitment to the Accord by committing our
fair share of fast-start funding and by
inscribing an ambitious and realistic emissions
reduction target of 17 per cent below 2005
levels by 2020.
Canada will continue
to work constructively to implement the
Copenhagen Accord and to complete the negotiations
under the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change for a comprehensive, legally
binding post-2012 agreement that is fair,
effective and comprehensive.
+ More
Government of Canada
Taking Further Action to Protect the Environment
and Health of Canadians by tabling Amendments
to the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Ottawa, Ontario -- December
13, 2010 -- The Honourable John Baird, Minister
of the Environment, and the Honourable Lawrence
Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today
reiterated the Government of Canada's commitment
to protecting the environment and citizens
against the harmful effects of Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs) by announcing
its intention to ratify amendments to the
Protocol on POPs, under the Convention on
Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP).
These amendments align with our strong domestic
policies.
POPs are harmful substances
that do not occur naturally. They persist
in the environment and accumulate within
living organisms, including people. Canada
is not a major producer or user of POPs,
but is affected by these substances: POPs
can be transported great distances and tend
to concentrate in colder climates such as
Canada's Arctic.
"The Government
supports the ratification of amendments
to the Protocol on POPs to protect the environment
and the health of all Canadians. We will
continue to provide leadership in the management
of these substances," said Minister
Baird.
"The Arctic is
a priority for the Canadian government.
POPs are known to accumulate in the North.
Tabling these amendments is an important
step in protecting the region and its people
from a type of pollution that is created
outside our boundaries. Canada continues
to work with international partners to reduce
global levels of POPs," said Minister
Cannon.
The Protocol on POPs
currently lists 16 substances, including
DDT and PCBs. It either bans or restricts
the production and use of all listed substances.
It also obliges Parties to reduce emissions
of specific substances below 11000 levels.
The Government of Canada
intends to ratify amendments that will add
5 additional substances to the POPs list.
Domestic action has already been taken on
these substances under the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act, 1999. Canada also supports
the incorporation of changes to a technical
annex of the Protocol, which are intended
to facilitate compliance with the Protocol.
