Canada to host G7 Ministerial Meeting on Working Together on Climate Change, Oceans and Clean Energy

To achieve a more sustainable future, we need to tackle climate change, improve the health of the world’s oceans and transform the way we produce, transport and use energy.

As part of Canada’s G7 presidency, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources, will co-host a meeting of G7 Environment, Energy and Oceans Ministers in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from September 19 to 21, 2018. Under the theme of Working Together on Climate Change, Oceans, and Clean Energy, ministers will discuss global climate action, clean growth, and sustainable finance, resilient coasts and fisheries, plastic pollution, energy security and clean energy.

Among the outcomes of the G7 Summit, held from June 8-9 in Charlevoix, Quebec, was the Charlevoix Blueprint for Healthy Oceans, Seas, and Resilient Coastal Communities, which will promote sustainable oceans and fisheries, support resilient coasts and coastal communities, and take action on ocean plastic waste and marine litter. Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the European Union also agreed to the Oceans Plastics Charter, which is a positive step for the environment and for businesses that will benefit from reducing the cost associated with plastic use.

“This G7 Ministerial Meeting is a tremendous opportunity to help advance climate action, cut plastic pollution in our oceans and accelerate the clean energy transition. Canada is proud to be among the leaders working to tackle these global challenges and seize the opportunities they represent as we build a more sustainable future for our kids and grandkids,” said Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

“Our oceans and seas are facing many challenges that threaten entire species and food security at home and abroad. With these final G7 Ministerial Meetings, we have an opportunity to foster collaboration with other international leaders on these important ocean issues. I am confident this will be a productive forum to discuss ways of fostering strategies and best practices that will help make our oceans cleaner, safer and healthier, now and for the future,” added Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard.

“Strengthening our energy security is about ensuring that our citizens have access to affordable, reliable and clean energy while supporting the transition to cleaner energy systems. I’m looking forward to meeting with my counterparts to discuss the opportunities to collaborate in building the energy systems of tomorrow; systems that are secure and resilient, sustainable and clean,” concluded The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of Natural Resources.

Pursuant to the outcomes of the G7 Leaders’ Summit, held from June 8-9 in Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada will invest $162 million to preserve the health and resilience of our oceans and coasts, and $100 million to rid our oceans of global marine litter and plastic pollution.

Original source: GA Canada
Published on 9 July 2018