OTTAWA, ON – September
1st, 2013 – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq,
Minister of the Environment, Minister of
the Canadian Northern Economic Development
Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council,
will travel to Oslo, Norway from September
2-3 to participate in the high-level assembly
of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants.
As chair of the Arctic Council, she will
also meet with Arctic experts on Canada’s
Arctic Council chairmanship initiatives
(2013-15).
“As an Arctic nation,
Canada profoundly understands the climate
and public health benefits of reducing short-lived
climate pollutants, such as black carbon
and methane,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “I
look forward to meeting with my international
colleagues to advance the collective efforts
of the CCAC.”
Canada’s North is especially
sensitive to the effects of black carbon
as there is an additional warming effect
when deposited onto snow and ice. Reducing
emissions of short-lived climate pollutants
is an integral part of Canada’s broader
climate change and clean air agenda, and
the Arctic Council program during Canada’s
chairmanship.
The Government of Canada's
is taking strong action at home to reduce
short-lived climate pollutants. Measures
include:
Regulations to reduce
air pollutants from on-road and off-road
vehicles, marine shipping in Canadian coastal
waters, and the Canadian rail sector.
Greenhouse gas regulations for the coal-fired
electricity sector.
The Air Quality Management System which
will provide stringent air quality limits
for fine particulate matter, ground-level
ozone, and new standards for nitrogen dioxide.
Canada is proud to be a founding member,
lead partner and the largest financial contributor
of the CCAC – the first global effort to
treat these pollutants as a collective challenge.
The work of the CCAC is complementary to
that of the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, where Canada is working
with other Parties to achieve substantial
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,
notably through negotiations on a new international
climate change agreement with commitments
by all major emitters.
+ Mais
Government of Canada
taking action to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse
OTTAWA, Ont. – September
17, 2013 – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq,
Minister of the Environment, Minister of
the Canadian Northern Economic Development
Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council,
announced today the Government’s intention
to introduce an Emergency Protection Order
for the Greater Sage-Grouse in the coming
months.
The intent of an Emergency
Order is to impose obligatory restrictions
designed to protect the Sage-Grouse and
its habitat on provincial and federal crown
lands in Alberta and Saskatchewan with no
restrictions on activities on private land,
nor on grazing on provincial or federal
crown lands. Our goal is to achieve the
best protection for the Sage-Grouse while
minimizing impacts on landowners and agricultural
producers.
“Through a combination
of stewardship measures we are addressing
the imminent threats to the Greater Sage-Grouse,”
said Minister Aglukkaq. “We will be working
with provinces and stakeholders over the
coming months to implement these measures.”
An Emergency Order would
build on efforts the Government of Canada
is already taking to protect the Greater
Sage-Grouse. We are partnering with the
Government of Saskatchewan, Government of
Alberta, the Calgary Zoo and other stakeholders
such as the Alberta Conservation Association
on several innovative new projects to support
the long term recovery of the Sage-Grouse
populations. We have already committed to
providing over $1 million in funding over
the next three years for projects to protect
Sage-Grouse and other species at risk in
Alberta and Saskatchewan. Additional funding
will be available under the Habitat Stewardship
Program to support landowners and other
stakeholders in protecting Sage-Grouse.
An Emergency Order under
the Species at Risk Act (SARA) can be used
when a species faces imminent threats to
its survival, and current protection measures
are deemed inadequate. An Emergency Order
for Greater Sage-Grouse would protect the
habitat necessary for the survival of the
species. This would be the first time since
the Act’s inception that this mechanism
is being invoked.
The Greater Sage-Grouse
is an endangered bird that depends on the
unique prairie ecosystem of southeastern
Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan. The
Sage-Grouse population in Canada has declined
by nearly 98% since 1988, with less than
150 birds now remaining in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
