United Nations Climate Change Conference: Montreal 2005

Canada welcomes the world to Montreal from November 28 to December 9, 2005, as delegates from 189 countries, as well as industry, business, scientific, and non-governmental organization representatives gather for the 11^th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference: Montreal 2005. This is a significant international event and conference organizers are anticipating between 7000 and 10 000 participants.

Montreal 2005 is not only the 11^th Conference of the Parties (COP 11), it will also mark the 1^st Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (MOP 1) since the global agreement on climate change came into effect in February of this year. It will be an important opportunity to adopt rules to strengthen the existing agreement and open discussions about long-term measures to combat and adapt to climate change after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires.

As a country already seeing the economic and social impacts of climate change in its Arctic regions, hosting Montreal 2005 gives Canada an important opportunity to influence the course of future global action on climate change.

To help raise awareness of the global challenges of climate change, as well as build public engagement and commitment to action, Canada is also supporting a number of parallel events to bring A World of Solutions to audiences well beyond the Conference.

A World of Solutions

A World of Solutions exhibitions, conferences and events will be held from November 27 to December 9, 2005 at the Complexe Guy-Favreau, a dynamic thoroughfare used by thousands of Montrealers every day. Both delegates and the general public are encouraged to attend.

These parallel events will generate greater knowledge of climate science, the impacts of climate change and the need to adapt, environmental technologies and carbon trading, and will foster an environment for sharing experiences and best practices in climate action.

Organized under four major themes, the first set of events is focused on Understanding and Preparing for Change. They will take place during the first week of the Conference, and will cover the latest research on climate and the climate change challenges faced by people, sectors of the economy and ecosystems. They will also provide a forum for discussion of adaptation strategies, including the needs and concerns of Africa and the Arctic.

Showcasing Solutions will offer realistic, accessible, and available solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate technology that is both environmentally and economically efficient. A series of International Industry Networking and Carbon Finance Day events will offer opportunities to exchange information on the latest trends in the carbon market, which puts a price on carbon emissions and rewards those who reduce them, as well as on networking and business development.

Events dealing with Sharing Best Practices will take place during the second week, and are designed to foster discussion about successful Canadian and international initiatives and best practices, and establish connections among community leaders. Key events under this theme will include the fourth Municipal Leaders Summit on Climate Change and the Climate Leaders' Summit, involving heads of provincial and state governments and chief executive officers from around the world. These last two events are by invitation only and are expected to draw approximately 300 delegates from around the globe.