Prime Minister Stephen Harper joins world leaders in New York to discuss climate change

September 22, 2009

NEW YORK CITY – Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with world leaders in New York today at the Summit on Climate Change organized by the United Nations Secretary-General.

“Our government is committed to working toward a comprehensive and effective international agreement that puts the world on a clean energy path,” said the Prime Minister.  “We need the commitment of both developed and developing nations on a framework that is fair and ambitious, yet realistic and responsible, in addressing the challenges of climate change.”

Canada is committed to tackling climate change through sustained action to build a low-carbon economy.  This action includes reaching a global agreement, working with North American partners and taking action at home.  The Government has pledged to reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent from 2006 levels by 2020 as part of a suite of actions aiming to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 70 per cent by 2050.

“At the same time, Canada continues to take action with our North American partners to advance clean energy development,” said the Prime Minister.  “Last week in Washington, President Obama and I reviewed progress under the Canada-U.S. Clean Energy Dialogue and agreed to an action plan between our two countries to continue our work together to protect the environment and to secure energy supply in a balanced and effective manner.”

The Summit on Climate Change was organized by the UN Secretary-General to give leaders from the largest emitting to the most vulnerable nations a forum to share perspectives and launch discussions prior to the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen this December.


Backgrounder

THE SUMMIT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

The Summit on Climate Change is being organized by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to launch a discussion on how to advance towards a successful outcome at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. 

In addition to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, confirmed participants in the Summit on Climate Change include: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, U.S. President Barack Obama and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.

The overall theme is “how can we collectively make the transition to low carbon economies to ensure sustainable growth for future generations?”

Five core issues will be discussed, including:

• Assistance to the most vulnerable nations to adapt to the effects of climate change;
• Ambitious mid-term targets for developed countries;
• Nationally-appropriate mitigation actions by developing countries;
• Financing and technology support for developing countries; and
• Institutional governance.

The Summit will include interactive discussions and eight roundtable sessions where each member state is invited to attend only one of the roundtables.  The working lunch session will include business and civil society leaders to discuss how business can be part of the solution to climate change and how to enhance public-private sector cooperation. 

The working dinner will focus on adaptation to a changing climate, finance, mitigation efforts and governance.

The Summit is not a negotiating session.  The Secretary-General will issue a Chair’s Summary at the conclusion that will reflect the ideas presented during the discussions.

Canada’s Position

The Government of Canada is committed to tackling climate change through sustained action to build a low-carbon economy.  This action includes reaching a global agreement, working with our North American partners and taking action at home.

The Government has pledged to reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent from 2006 levels by 2020.  Canada will meet this goal while ensuring that its actions going forward remain comparable to what Canada’s partners in the United States, Europe and other industrialized countries undertake.

The Government is committed to working toward a comprehensive and effective international agreement that puts the world on a clean energy path.  Canada is playing an active role in climate change discussions domestically, continentally and internationally with the goal of achieving a fair, effective and ambitious agreement in Copenhagen this December.

Canada is seeking an effective international climate change agreement that balances environmental protection and economic prosperity, has a long-term focus, supports the development and deployment of clean technologies, supports constructive and ambitious global action and includes commitments from all major economies.

Canada will continue to support international action that strengthens the capacity of the poorest and most vulnerable to adapt to the effects of a changing climate.  In 2008, Prime Minister Harper announced $100 million to help the least developed countries and small island developing states – particularly in Africa, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific – with their climate change adaption efforts.

Canada continues to take action at home and with our North American partners to advance clean energy development.  In Washington on September 16, Prime Minister Harper and U.S. President Obama reviewed progress under the Canada-U.S. Clean Energy Dialogue and agreed on an action plan to continue to work together to protect the environment and to secure energy supply in a balanced and effective manner.

The Canada-U.S. Clean Energy Dialogue was established by the two leaders last February to identify ways that both countries can jointly develop clean energy solutions to reduce greenhouse gases and to combat climate change.  The action plan for cooperation focuses on three areas: developing clean energy technology, building a more efficient energy grid and expanding research and development.