| 08/11/2005
– The Honorable Stéphane Dion will visit the Spanish
cities of Madrid and Zaragoza from November 9 - 11, 2005,
where he will participate in a seminar on climate change
and meet with his Spanish and Colombian counterparts in
preparation for the upcoming Montréal 2005 – United
Nations Climate Change Conference. A key objective of
the trip is to continue the dialogue on Canada’s approach
at the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. This
dialogue is part of Canada’s broad international engagement
on climate change.
“The discussions in Spain will be an excellent opportunity
to share Canada’s views on what we hope to see happen
in Montreal in terms of strengthening Kyoto and setting
the agenda for a future global action that is effective
and inclusive,” said Minister Dion.
While in Madrid, Minister Dion will deliver a speech at
a seminar entitled Climate Change: Opportunities in Latin
America, co-organized by Gas Natural and the Spanish Ministry
of Environment. The Minister will provide participants
from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and Portugal
with an overview of what he hopes will take place in Montreal
on progress towards implementing and improving the Kyoto
Protocol and prompting effective discussions on global
action in the longer term.
As part of his continued effort to actively consult other
countries in advance of Montréal 2005, Minister
Dion will meet with the Spanish Environment Minister Cristina
Narbona Ruiz.
While in Zaragoza, the Minister will meet with officials
from the Centre Carbo-chimique to discuss a project related
to greenhouse gas transformation to electricity. Also
at a conference in Zaragoza, Minister Dion will deliver
a speech entitled “Canadian Federalism and its Projection
on the Spanish Model.”
“As Host of the UN Climate Change Conference, we have
held more than 150 bilaterals with over 40 key countries
to pave the way for productive discussions at the conference
on an effective, long-term global approach to climate
change,” said Minister Dion.
The Montreal Conference will take place from November
28 to December 9, 2005. |
