Environment Ministers Hold Preparatory Meeting before the 2005 UN Climate Change Conference in Montreal

OTTAWA, September 24, 2005 – For the past two days Environment Ministers and senior officials from 38 countries have been meeting in Ottawa to discuss critical issues before the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal.

"We discussed three key points that need to be addressed in Montreal" said Minister Stéphane Dion. "We need to take action to fully implement our current commitments. We need to improve some key aspects of both the Kyoto Protocol and the Convention. And finally, we need to be innovative in our approaches to secure future action on a global level."

Canada is hosting the UN Climate Change Conference from November 28 to December 9. In preparing for the event, Minister Dion and Canadian officials have been actively canvassing other countries on the steps to global action on climate change, including consultations with over 40 key countries and a number of roundtables with international experts.

Based on these meetings and consultations, a discussion paper was prepared that presented six elements that could form the basis of a long-term international approach. The discussion paper is available at www.montreal2005.gc.ca.

Ministers discussed the possible advantages of international cooperation that might be built on these elements – how they could be used to implement and strengthen the Kyoto Protocol and guide the development of future international cooperation on climate change. This was an informal meeting. Ministers identified common denominators as well as points of divergence.

In his closing statement, Minister Dion remarked that "We are developing an atmosphere of mutual respect that will serve us well as we face the ambitious and rewarding task of reaching agreement in Montreal".

It is the role of the UNFCCC to enlist the engagement and action of the entire world, including governments, business, NGOS and individuals. The Montreal Conference will be one event in that process. It is Canada's hope that the Conference will establish a new tone of conciliation in the discussions about current and future actions to reduce GHG emissions.

For more information, please contact:

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

Sébastien Bois
Media Relations
Environment Canada
(819) 953-4016

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