Government of Canada
2002/02
January 8, 2002

PEOPLE IN SASKATCHEWAN GAIN ACCESS TO CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION

REGINA - Saskatchewan people will now be able to find climate change information more easily, thanks to the launch of Climate Change Saskatchewan, one of several climate change centres across Canada designed to help Canadians understand climate change and learn what to do to lessen its effects.

The Government of Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina are working together on a pilot project that will concentrate on Saskatchewan issues such as energy use, education and agricultural practices.

"Climate Change Saskatchewan will provide and coordinate education and information on climate change that is credible and relevant to the people of Saskatchewan," Natural Resources Canada Minister Ralph Goodale said. "We see this as a key requirement for individuals, industry, government and others to take action on climate change."

"Climate change is a complex issue which has many environmental, economic and social implications, and it is important for all people and sectors in Saskatchewan to understand these issues and to learn how they can contribute to a solution," Energy and Mines Minister Andrew Thomson said.

Environment and Resource Management Minister Buckley Belanger agreed. "We're all responsible and all of us will have a role to play in addressing this issue," Belanger said. "Climate Change Saskatchewan will help us create much greater awareness and understanding of how climate change is affecting us now, how it will affect us in the future, how we can take steps to reduce its impacts and how we will need to adapt."

"The University of Regina is becoming a leader in climate change research with the new Greenhouse Gas Technology Centre, the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC) and the associated work of the Petroleum Technology Research Centre," University of Regina President Dr. David Barnard said. "We're very pleased to host this important new organization that will help the University to focus on developing school-based and public education programs supporting our research activities."

The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan have contributed $80,000 and $87,000 respectively to this 18-month pilot project. The University of Regina will host the centre.

As a pilot program, the services and organization are expected to evolve to meet the changing needs of the climate change issue. An advisory committee composed of individuals representing numerous sectors throughout Saskatchewan, including business, environment, industry, education and government, will guide the organization.

Climate Change Saskatchewan's Web site features resource pages for students, teachers, industry sectors and others, in addition to information on how climate change affects Saskatchewan, links to other organizations working on climate change and advice on how people can take action. The Web site is located at www.climatechangesask.ca.

Climate Change Saskatchewan is promoting a speakers' bureau and developing educational materials to support a climate change curriculum for all levels of school children. The education sector program will be kicked off at the Teachers' Conventions in February. Call toll-free to 1-866-887-8823 to request a speaker or get more information.

This is Canada's fifth climate change centre. New Brunswick, Alberta, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories launched their centres in 2001. They are part of the First National Climate Change Business Plan, agreed to by the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of energy and environment at a meeting in October 2000.

Government of Canada funding for this initiative is built into the existing financial framework. It is funded through the $150-million Climate Change Action Fund established in the 1998-99 federal budget and extended for a further three years in the 2000 federal budget.

For more information, media may contact:

Pat Breton
Press Secretary
Natural Resources Canada
Phone: (613) 996-2007

Ed Dean
Saskatchewan Environment and
Resource Management
Phone: (306) 787-7812

Janet Peters
Saskatchewan Energy and Mines
Phone: (306) 787-2567

Dan Beveridge
Saskatchewan Instructional
Development Research Unit
University of Regina
Phone: (306) 585-4839