Canada Joins International Climate Change Partnerships

LONDON, United Kingdom – March 16, 2005 - The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Canada’s Environment Minister, and the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, announced today that Canada has joined both the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and the Methane to Markets Partnership at the G8 Energy and Environment Ministerial Roundtable.

The goal of REEEP is to accelerate and expand the global market for renewable-energy and energy-efficient technologies.

It assists the governments of developing countries in creating regulatory policy frameworks which integrate renewables into the energy mix and help establish investment climates to encourage the development and use of renewable energy. The partnership also assists with creating sustainable energy funds and financing models.

“Joining these partnerships will strengthen Canada’s ties to governments of industrialized, emerging and developing countries. They will increase opportunities for our businesses and researchers involved in creating and commercializing clean energy technologies and practices in pursuit of a healthier global environment for Canada and the world,” said Minister Dion. “We shall put these innovations into action to cut emissions of greenhouse gases like CO₂ and methane along with smog-causing pollutants and airborne toxics like mercury.”

The Methane to Markets partnership, for its part, aims to enhance international cooperation to advance the recovery and use of methane to improve energy security, economic growth, air quality and industrial safety; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the world.

It focuses on developing strategies and markets, implementing frameworks for action and removing barriers to the design of collaborative projects between countries.

“Our membership in both REEEP and Methane to Markets enhances Canada’s commitment to energy innovation in the fight against climate change. Budget 2005 showed our commitment to tackle climate change with more than $2 billion over 15 years in tax and production incentives for renewable energy including wind, solar and land-fill gases,” said Minister Efford. “Canada is becoming a renewable energy leader and joining these partnerships will further speed our global emergence.”

For more information, please contact:

André Lamarre
Director of Communications
Office of the Environment Minister
(819) 997-1441

Tom Ormsby
Director of Communications
Office of the Natural Resources Minister
(613) 996-2007

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