Climate Leaders’ Summit Declaration

The Climate Leaders’ Summit ended Tuesday, as Canadian Premiers from the provinces of Quebec, Manitoba, Nunavut and the North West Territories signed a Declaration with regional government leaders from around the world that committed them to work together to achieve real reductions in greenhouse emissions.

The Declaration was the result of two days of discussions by 200 leaders at the Summit, held in parallel to the UN Climate Change Conference.  Leaders focussed on the best practices of regional governments in addressing climate change (e.g., increased use of biofuels, refurbishing of buildings to make them more energy efficiency, and creating a market for environmentally friendly products). 

Over the course of the summit, co-chaired by Premiers Charest and Doer, a number of heads of major international corporations such as Dupont, Swiss Re, HSBC, Alcan, and Catalyst Papers outlined the economic benefits of implementing new measures and cutting-edge technologies that reduce and prevent greenhouse gas emissions in both the public and private sectors.

A unique feature of the Summit was the focus on Northern Canada.  Although Nunavut and the Northwest Territories produce far fewer greenhouse emissions than the rest of Canada, the effects of climate change are striking.  For example, where sea ice was once frozen for six months of the year in the Cumberland Sound, Nunavut, it is now only safe to be out hunting on the ice for about three months of the year. 

The Leaders’ Summit is part of an initiative of the Climate Group, a U.K.-based, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting awareness of climate change.  The Summit’s Declaration is expected to be presented at the UN Conference at this point this week. 

A compilation of comments from leaders attending the event was assembled by Canada:  Daily Highlights and is presented below:

• Manitoba Premier Gary Doer and Co-chair of the Summit: "There are many individuals, organizations, businesses and governments who have embraced this challenge and we have many positives upon which to build."
  
  
• Québec Premier Jean Charest and Co-chair of the Summit:  "The Leaders’ Summit Declaration shows that regional governments are prepared to invest more to fight climate change and to share their knowledge.”
  
  
• Premier Paul Okalik of Nunavut:  “The effects of climate change for the Inuit of Nunavut are significant, including such serious consequences as the thawing of the permafrost and the melting of land and sea ice, which is considerable, producing ‘raging and dangerous rivers’.”
  
  
• Premier Joseph Handley of North WestTerritories:  “Houses need to be reconstructed as the wooden piles that were once solidly in place in the permanently frozen ground are no longer stable as the ground continues to thaw.”
  
  
• U.S. Governor of VermontJames Douglas:  "Working together, in a spirit of cooperation, and with a commitment to achieving real reductions in GHG emissions, we will leave future generations a healthier, stronger and more closely connected planet."
  
  
• U.S. Governor of New MexicoBill Richardson:  "No issue has more impact internationally today than how we develop trade and use energy. It is directly related to foreign policy, the growth of the world economy and, of course, the environment."