GATINEAU, QC, June 5, 2020
/CNW/ - Every year, the Government of Canada celebrates Canadian Environment Week,
an important milestone to raise awareness and protect the
environment. This year, Environment Week was celebrated virtually,
as Canadians continue to practise physical distancing during the
COVID–19 pandemic.
This week, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the
Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, commemorated the 2020 edition
of Canadian Environment Week by participating in various virtual
events.
On June 2, Minister Wilkinson was joined by the
United Kingdom's Minister of State
for Business, Energy and Clean Growth, the Right Honourable Kwasi
Kwarteng, to welcome six new members to the international
Powering Past Coal Alliance, including the Quebec-based Desjardins Group. This virtual
announcement was attended by hundreds of investors and
climate-policy experts from all over the world. Phasing out coal
power is good for human health, the environment, and the economy,
and Canada is proud to be taking a
leadership role on the world stage.
On June 4, Minister Wilkinson joined young leaders
from Leading Change Canada to discuss the importance of continued
youth engagement in developing solutions and ideas to protect our
nature and act on climate change. As the country works toward
social recovery and better public health, young voices are needed
more than ever to help the country build a stronger and more
resilient economy.
June 5 is World Environment Day, and Montréal was selected
as this year's North America host
city. For this occasion, Minister Wilkinson participated in a
virtual event organized by Montréal's Space for Life and by the
United Nation's Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity. There, he announced more than 60 nature
conservation projects under development, which are protecting
biodiversity from coast to coast to coast and helping Canada achieve its target of protecting
25 percent of its lands and 25 percent of its oceans by
2025. Nearly half of these projects are Indigenous-led, with the
purpose of working toward creating Indigenous protected and
conserved areas. All projects are available to view on the new
Canada Target 1 Challenge map.
Science plays a critical role in the protection of our
environment. Throughout Canadian Environment Week, Environment and
Climate Change Canada scientists connected with kids across the
country through Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, an
organization that teaches kids about science, conservation, and
exploration through virtual field trips.
Quotes
"This year's Canadian Environment Week was a celebration of our
nature and a reflection on the importance of safeguarding our
environment. Even under the special circumstances during the
COVID-19 pandemic, I witnessed the special relationship Canadians
share with their natural environment. It is this relationship that
makes Canadian Environment Week so important and helps ensure the
health and well-being of Canadians today and for generations
to come."
– The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment
and Climate Change
Associated links
- News release – Canada to
celebrate Clean Air Day with new members of the Powering Past Coal
Alliance, including Quebec-based
Desjardins Group
- Video of Minister Wilkinson discussing the Powering Past Coal
Alliance with Desjardins president and CEO Guy Cormier
- New release – Canada marks
World Environment Day by protecting nature from coast to coast to
coast
- Canada Target 1 Challenge map
- Minister Wilkinson video statement on Twitter for World
Environment Day
- Videos from Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada