Minister of Environment and Climate Change participates in G7 Environment Ministers' Meeting in Japan

OTTAWA, May 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, will attend this year's G7 Environment Ministers' Meeting in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, where Canada will continue to play a leadership role and work with international partners to address environmental issues.

The Minister will be joined by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who will participate in discussions with other mayors on the role of cities, including on the modernization of transport networks and exploring city planning strategies that include renewable energy sources to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.   

Minister McKenna will participate in discussions on climate change and the efforts of G7 countries to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The Minister will also present Canada's successful actions to minimize domestic mercury emissions, which have been reduced by 90 percent in the past 25 years, and reiterate Canada's support of the Minamata Convention.

G7 environment ministers will use this key forum to discuss their plans to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and ways to increase resource efficiency, with their common interests to be reflected in the meeting's communiqué and the Toyama Framework on Material Cycles.                                

Quote

"The world needs new ideas, smart solutions and sustained effort to meet the environmental challenges we face. By working together with our G7 partners, we can advance global action on climate change, including the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and the promotion of carbon pricing and low‑carbon economies."
– The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• The G7 Toyama Environment Ministers' Meeting is the first meeting of environment ministers in almost a decade. It will allow the G7 nations to discuss environmental policies prior to the G7 Leaders' Summit that will take place on May 26‑27, 2016.
• Canada participates in different international fora pertaining to the environment, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, United Nations Environment Programme, G7, G20, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Montreal Protocol, and Arctic Council.
• Canada signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013 and is working towards its ratification.
• Monitoring data indicate that mercury levels in Arctic plants and wildlife have generally been increasing over the past 30 years due to long-range transport of mercury from foreign sources. Mercury levels in Inuit from Canada and Greenland are among the highest in the world.

Associated links

www.canada.ca/climateaction

www.env.go.jp/earth/g7toyama_emm/L

www.international.gc.ca/g7/index.aspx?lang=eng

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

Caitlin Workman, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-938-9436; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)