News Release

Canada Calls New UN Agreement an Important First Step

NUSA DUA, BALI, INDONESIA - Canada's Environment Minister, John Baird, stated Saturday after the conclusion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference that he was pleased to see the world sign on to a new international agreement that acknowledged all countries must play a role.

"From the very beginning of these discussions, Canada's position has been that we must have an effective, binding international framework that leads to real greenhouse gas reductions.  To reach that goal all major emitters, including China, India and the United States, need to be on board and the world moved closer to that goal today," said Minister Baird.  "Our Government is proud of the principled position we have taken.  With the United States now signed on to this framework the results of this conference show progress and we see that as an important first step.  Now we need further progress by other major emitters over the next two years.

The agreement reached earlier today launches a two-year effort to negotiate a global plan to reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

"Make no mistake; the next two years will be a challenge, with long and intense negotiations.  Canada looks forward to meeting that challenge and to working with our international partners to develop a global solution in the fight against climate change," said Minister Baird.

As the conference began Canada and the United Nations set out with three main goals: 

• the world must come together and agree to launch negotiations for a post-2012 agreement;
• there must be an agreement on what the building blocks for a framework should be, and;
• there must be an end date for negotiations of 2009.

Canada has been successful in achieving these goals.

"Climate change is a global problem requiring global solutions, and we've seen that with today's agreement.  We have a track record of leadership on the environment at the G8, APEC, the Commonwealth and the United Nations." said Minister Baird. "Let me be clear - Canada is committed to the United Nations process, we are committed to a new international framework driven by science, and we are committed to action with our Turning the Corner Plan. Now is the time to act."

For more information, please contact:

Eric Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441  In Indonesia: 085857032508

Environment Canada
Media Relations
(819) 934-8008
1-888-908-8008