Kyoto anniversary: a year of concrete action

Calgary -- December 11, 1998-- One year after the negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol, the federal government has undertaken a number of actions to help Canada meet its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Environment Minister Christine Stewart and Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale announced today.

Domestically, actions include:

• the establishment of 15 Issue Tables where 450 experts are working to identify options so that all sectors of our economy and all regions of our country can make their contributions to achieving reductions in greenhouse gas emissions;
• the development of a National Implementation Strategy to meet our Kyoto target of minus six percent; and
• the introduction of the $150 million Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF).

The government has also undertaken actions on the international front including:

• hosting a forum for Ministers from developed and developing countries on how to make use of the flexibility measures through the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism;
• sponsoring regional workshops in Latin America and Africa on flexibility measures; and
• working to develop the Buenos Aires Plan of Action that commits countries to have in place international rules and mechanisms necessary to implement the Protocol by the end of2000.

"Canadians have come a long way since Kyoto," said Minister Stewart. "A year ago, much of the debate surrounding climate change was whether to act. Today there is consensus that we must act; recognition that we can act; and a sense of pride because we are acting."

In addition, Ministers Stewart and Goodale announced today eight new projects the government is funding to encourage early actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The six Public Education and Outreach projects, and two Science, Impact and Adaptation projects will be funded under the (CCAF).

These projects will receive $961,000 from the Fund for one to three years. Project proponents have leveraged an additional $1 million in monetary and in-kind resources. Building public awareness and understanding of climate change and engaging Canadians in local action are critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Science, Impacts and Adaptation projects help improve our knowledge of the climate system and our ability to assess and adapt to the impact of climate change.

"Since we announced the CCAF in October, we have provided more than $2.5 million in federal funding to 28 early action initiatives," said Minister Goodale. "When combined with other partners' contributions, this results in an investment of $6.9 million."

Through the Climate Change Action Fund, the federal government is taking concrete steps to engage Canadians, non-government organizations, businesses, communities and governments in partnerships that are leading to a deeper understanding of the climate change issue, as well as to early and meaningful actions on greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

The CCAF has four components that offer Canadians opportunities to act: Technology Early Action Measures (TEAM); Science, Impacts and Adaptation; Public Education and Outreach; and Foundation Analysis. The CCAF is expected to spark significant private sector and other funding from the federal and provincial governments, which will allow it to make the most of opportunities for finding concrete climate change solutions.

The federal government has committed $150 million over three years for the CCAF. This is in addition to the funds earmarked for climate change activities in previous budgets and ongoing government programs dedicated to the issue. In total, the federal financial commitment to find and implement climate change solutions now adds up to more than $200 million per year.

For more information on the CCAF, please refer to the Government of Canada climate change Web site: http://www.climatechange.gc.ca.

Related documents:

• Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF)[backgrounder]
• Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) Public Outreach Program - Summary of early action projects[backgrounder]
• Speaking Notes for The Honourable Christine Stewart, P.C., M.P. on the occasion of an address to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce[speech]
• Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) - Science, impacts and adaptation - Summary of early action projects[backgrounder]