RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil
- June 22, 2012 - Today, Canada's Environment
Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, delivered
Canada's country statement on the final
day of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference
on sustainable development.
"Canada is pleased
with the positive outcome at Rio+20, and
we are ready to do our part," said
Minister Kent. "The result is clear;
there is 'no one size fits all' solution
to enhancing global sustainability and we
will only achieve our collective goals through
collaboration."
The Conference was successful
in renewing global support for sustainable
development, one of Canada's main goals
heading into Rio+20. This includes the recognition
of green economy as a tool for achieving
sustainable development and the strengthening
of the United Nations Environment Program.
But it also highlighted the importance for
all members of society to work together
to achieve sustainable development, the
key role of partnerships, and of international
cooperation.
Canada played a central
role in the run-up to, and throughout, the
Rio+20 Conference including being elected
as one of the Conference's Vice-Presidents
when the Conference began on June 20. In
addition, Canada was one of the 10 countries
elected to serve on the Rio+20 Conference
Bureau, which oversaw preparations for the
Conference.
The Canadian delegation
also facilitated three of eleven formal
negotiating groups, including the group
on the green economy, one of the two major
themes of the Conference.
During negotiations,
Canada was pleased to have supported the
launch of Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), one of the main outcomes of the
Conference.
Canada shared a number
of policy tools and best practices, which
include the Chemicals Management Plan, our
Strategic Environmental Assessment process,
the Green Mining Initiative, development
of greenhouse gas regulations, augmenting
oil sands monitoring, and the establishment
of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.
Canada's approach to
responsible resource development will play
an important role in achieving a sustainable
future for Canadians.
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Canada and Saskatchewan
working together to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions
REGINA, Sask. – June
8, 2012 – Canada’s Environment Minister,
the Honourable Peter Kent, and Saskatchewan’s
Minister of Environment, the Honourable
Ken Cheveldayoff, announced today that they
are working towards an equivalency agreement
on coal-fired electricity greenhouse gas
regulations.
Both governments wish
to avoid duplication of effort to control
greenhouse gas emissions, and are working
together to ensure that industry does not
face two sets of regulations. An equivalency
agreement would see the federal regulations
stand down in favour of a provincial regulation,
as long as the provincial regulation achieves
an equivalent or better environmental outcome.
“The Governments of
Canada and Saskatchewan are steadfast in
our commitment to address climate change,”
said Minister Kent. “We remain focused on
our mutual goal of reducing greenhouse gas
emissions from coal-fired electricity, but
want to ensure that Saskatchewan has the
flexibility to choose an approach that best
suits its circumstances.”
“Saskatchewan looks
forward to working with the federal government
to negotiate an equivalency agreement that
reflects our unique circumstances, and advances
the technology and innovation required to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Minister
Cheveldayoff. “This agreement will provide
the flexibility needed to implement clean
coal and carbon capture and storage technology
at Boundary Dam 3 and other coal-fired plants
in Saskatchewan.”
Saskatchewan is the
second province to work with the Government
of Canada on an equivalency agreement for
coal-fired electricity regulations, with
the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia
having made a similar announcement earlier
this spring.
In August 2011, the
federal government proposed new regulations
for the electricity sector that will apply
a stringent performance standard to new
coal-fired electricity generation units
and those coal-fired units that have reached
the end of their economic life. Final regulations
are expected to be published later this
summer.
Tackling emissions from
coal-fired electricity generation, which
represents 11% of Canada’s total greenhouse
gas emissions, will go a long way towards
meeting Canada’s target of a 17% reduction
in total greenhouse gas emissions below
2005 levels, by 2020.
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The Biosphere Launches
Its Summer Season with Eight Environment-themed
Exhibits
MONTRÉAL, Que.
-- June 14, 2012 -- The Biosphere environment
museum is opening the season with its jam-packed
summer programming featuring eight exhibitions,
four science-themed events, and three facilitated
outdoor tours. A visit to the Biosphere
is an opportunity to learn about major environmental
issues and to discover solutions for green
living.
Among the new elements
being presented this summer are the over-sized
photographs of the outdoor exhibit Nature
Close Up!; the facilitated scientific activity
Adaptation: The Winning Edge; and a self-guided
tour highlighting this spectacular symbol
of Expo 67 using portable digital players.
Take the time to check out the Biosphere’s
new 5.7-metre high interior green wall and
learn about its properties.
Nature Close Up!
The natural world is a constant source of
wonder. At the microscopic level, it teems
with well-guarded treasures: beneficial
relationships between species and ingenious
strategies for surviving and staying fed.
These secrets have also inspired major innovations
that serve humanity well. This outdoor exhibition
of 40 out-sized photographs presents this
remarkable universe, often invisible to
the naked eye. Presented free until May
22, 2013, Nature Close Up! lines the path
stretching from the Jean-Drapeau metro station
to the Biosphere.
Adaptation: The Winning
Edge
Kids and adults alike will enjoy this science-themed
activity, which is inspired by television
game shows. Playing in teams, participants
must work quickly to find ways for communities
to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Self-guided Indoor Tour
The Biosphere is now offering a new visiting
experience using portable digital players.
Short vignettes provide additional information,
photos and videos to complement the museum
exhibits. Interested visitors can also hear
about how green technologies work at the
Biosphere and learn about the American pavilion
of Expo 67 and its famed architect and visionary,
Richard Buckminster Fuller.
There’s more!
Among the other activities and exhibitions
being presented is the large-scale exhibit
O.N.E. | Outfits from a New Era, a display
of 16 outfits fashioned from castoff consumer
products, as well as the exhibit on climate
change +1°C: What Difference Does It
Make? This summer is also the last chance
to enjoy Water Wonders! Since its opening
in 2005, this exhibit has regaled thousands
of children with its water games and numerous
challenges, including walking on water!
This is also the ideal
time to mark the 45th anniversary of Expo
67 by taking the GeoTour 67 using a digital
media player (devices available at a cost
of $5 or free with the purchase of a museum
entrance fee). Discover the old pavilions
of the 1967 World’s Fair from a new environmental
perspective accompanied by information,
audio vignettes and anecdotes as you travel
the two 4-km routes.
The Biosphere is open
daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until October
31. Visitors aged 17 and younger are admitted
free at all times (not applicable to organized
groups). Please visit the Biosphere webpage
for more information on all the museum’s
programs and entry fees.
