Steven Guilbeault's very productive visit to India
He attended the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Environment and Climate Resilience, as well as many other events.
As the world faces a triple climate crisis — climate change, loss of wildlife and pollution — Canada is working hard to build momentum for progress on environmental issues, both nationally and internationally. We've already written about the Canadian government's international and domestic investments in support of environmental initiatives. And last week, Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault made a productive visit to India. This included stops in Delhi and Chennai, where he represented Canada at the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Environment and Climate Resilience.
Canadian representation came to the G20 Ministerial Meeting to support the Indian agenda and promote 2 important Canadian commitments to address environmental issues. Canada is the first G20 country to publicly disclose a phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, announced last week, 2 years ahead of schedule. Also earlier this month, Canada announced a CAD 450 million investment in the second replenishment of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
During 3 days of ministerial meetings in Delhi and Chennai, Canadian representatives expressed support for the following initiatives:
increasing climate ambitions, including at the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention (COP28) on Climate Change, to keep a 1.5°C temperature rise within reach;
G20's commitment to phasing out fossil fuels;
full and effective implementation of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the successful launch of the GBF fund to support developing countries;
Effective work to finalize negotiations on a new globally binding document to end plastic pollution by 2024.
Canada and India have a long history of cooperation on climate change and environmental protection. Minister Guilbeault met with India's Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, and Minister of Water Resources, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. These meetings discussed common interests as well as aspirations for the Indo-Pacific region and emphasized the need to work together today and in the future to address climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
This weekend Canada switches to winter time
A new era for Canadian athletes
Canada celebrates its National Day and reflec...
Rising inflation in May threatens rate cuts i...
Canada Prepares for a Sharp Increase in the E...
High Auto Insurance Rates for Immigrants Spar...
Canadian intelligence raises alarm: China's i...
Canada continues to attract skilled professio...
How the food supply chain in Canada works and...
The mysterious disappearance of a taxidermy g...
The remains of a mysterious ship have been fo...
Saskatchewan raises age limit for tobacco pur...
Guilbeault also led a discussion with young Indian environmentalists, which was joined via video link by Michael Girum, a member of the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council from Alberta. Girum, as a young and enterprising Canadian shared his perspective on climate and environmental issues. At the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Steven Guilbeault spoke to teachers and students about the journey from G20 to COP28. In addition, the Minister participated in a roundtable discussion with Indian business leaders and leading environmental NGOs to hear their views on key issues that need to be heard by the G20.
The Canadian authorities thank India for the ambitious agenda set at the ministerial meeting. Its outcome shows how much work the G20 has to do to make COP28 a success. Throughout the G20 Ministerial Meeting, Guilbeault stressed how important it is for all countries to recognize the need to accelerate action on climate change over the next ten years to avoid the worst impacts, and praised the G20's commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity.
Back on the margins of the G20, Guilbeault participated in a dialog with Japanese Environment Minister Akihiro Nishimura. They discussed the common goals set at the G7 and G20 meetings, progress on combating plastic pollution, action on conservation and diversity, and the challenges facing both countries ahead of November's COP 28. Gilbo also met with Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, European Union Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius, Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and U.S. Presidential Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry.
Minister Guilbeault also attended an event organized by the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition, where Steven spoke about Canada's commitment to resource efficiency and the circular economy, and the need to combat plastic pollution.
