OTTAWA, June 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada's Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Peter Kent, issued the following statement marking the end of Canadian Environment Week (June 3-9):
"Canadian Environment Week has been a great occasion for Canadians to take stock of the strong, positive steps our government has taken towards protecting the environment. We can all be proud of our efforts towards ensuring cleaner air and water, creating stronger regulation of chemicals, developing more effective mitigation and adaptation strategies for climate change, creating an expanded Parks system, and moving forward on responsible resource development that will continue to create jobs for Canadian families while protecting our environment.
"It was a good week to remind ourselves of the strong progress we are making in the fight against climate change, highlighted by our latest Greenhouse Gas emissions reports, which clearly stated that Canada's overall greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 6.5 percent from 2005 levels. We can be proud of the fact that our per capita emissions in 2010 were at their lowest levels since tracking began in 1990, but we must not lose sight of the fact that we still have more to go.
"I hope that Canadians used this week to visit one of Canada's 43 national parks, 167 national historic sites or 4 national marine conservation areas. It is important to note that, as a cornerstone of the Harper Government's conservation strategy, our country has seen an addition of more than 150,000 square kilometres to the existing lands and waters administered by Parks Canada since 2006—a 54% increase.
"It is also exciting to think that, for future Canadian Environment Weeks, over 20 percent of our population will be in easy travel distance from Canada's First National Urban Park that we recently announced in the Rouge Valley, in Ontario.
"In closing, our Government recognizes the importance of ensuring that Canadians have clean air, clean water, and a strong, diverse environment in which to raise their families. We will continue to take the necessary steps to protect the beautiful country in which we live."
Canadian Environment Week is held during the first week of June to coincide with World Environment Day.
Adam Sweet
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
Environment Canada's Twitter page: http://twitter.com/environmentca
Environment Canada's Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/environmentcan
(Également offert en français)
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