Conference of the Parties 16

From November 29 to December 10, 2010 Canada will join more than 190 countries in Cancun, Mexico, for the 16^th session of the Conference of Parties (COP16) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Last December, at COP15, Canada was one of over 100 countries that endorsed the Copenhagen Accord, an agreement that represents an important step forward in the global effort to address climate change.

The Copenhagen Accord successfully balances our environmental responsibilities while ensuring our economy remains strong today and into the future. In addition, Canada’s greenhouse gas reduction target is a realistic and ambitious 17% reduction by 2020. This target is exactly the same as that of the Obama Administration.

Under the Accord, developed countries committed to provide fast-start funding approaching US$30 billion for 2010-2012 to support climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. As part of our fair share of this commitment, Canada is contributing $400 million this year alone, and much of this funding will go to the least-developed countries and small island states. This is a major investment towards addressing international climate change and Canada’s largest ever international environment-related contribution.

Building on the momentum of the Copenhagen Accord, Canada will continue to work with our international partners to develop a fair and effective international climate change agreement that includes commitments from all major economies. Such an agreement needs to balance environmental protection and economic prosperity while maintaining a long-term focus, promoting the development and deployment of clean technologies, and facilitating constructive and ambitious global action.

I look forward to representing Canada at COP16, along with Guy Saint Jacques, Canada’s Ambassador and Chief Negotiator for Climate Change, as we strive for a global solution to combat climate change.

John Baird

Canada’s Environment Minister