Check against delivery
Thank you Dan,
17/02/2005 - Good evening to you all. I
am honoured to have the opportunity to be
with you here in Ottawa tonight to celebrate
Alcan’s first Prize for Sustainability.
As Minister for the Environment, it gives
me great pleasure to see business and not-for-profit
organizations together here. There is nothing
more important than ensuring a sustainable
world – for this and future generations.
Our future depends on a sustainable relationship
between human kind and our planet.
The Alcan Prize for Sustainability unites
business and not-for-profit organizations
as a new force for change. It represents
the partnerships and mindset that will transform
our economy, our technologies and our way
of life.
It is these kinds of rewards and incentives
that demonstrate a mutual commitment to
our environment.
In the past, business and not-for-profit
organizations appeared to be on two different
spectrums. Economic gains and environmental
protection appeared to be two opposing considerations,
but not any more.
Yesterday I joined the Prime Minister in
Montreal as we began that process. He announced
that Canada will host the next meeting of
the Kyoto Protocol (CoP11), the Eleventh
Conference of the Parties, commonly called
CoP 11, in Montreal later this year.
The Montreal Conference on Climate will
help assure Canada plays an active and key
role in the post-Kyoto negotiations.
Delegations from nearly 200 countries around
the world will come to Canada to hold discussions
on what our next steps will need to be.
Canada believes this new agreement must
have a number of key objectives. There must
be broader participation, including involvement
by the United States and key emerging economies,
such as China and India. Outcomes must result
in real progress over the longer term. It
must recognize investments in developing
and sharing transformative technologies.
Lastly, it requires a streamlined and efficient
global carbon market.
A year ago, Alcan looked forward and asked
for help in creating something that would
recognize and motivate Canadians to take
action on the environment.
It gives me great pleasure to stand in
front of you to celebrate the achievements
of the winner of the Alcan Prize for Sustainability
- the Forest Stewardship Council.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has
been doing a great job providing standard
setting, trademark assurance and accreditation
services for companies and organizations
interested in responsible forestry.
Over the past ten years, 48 million hectares,
in more than 60 countries, have been certified
according to FSC standards.
Certification is increasingly recognized
as an effective way to promote sustainable
practices within the industry. The Quebec
Commission for the Scientific, Technical,
Public and Independent Study of Public Forest
Management recommended that all public forest
management units in the province be certified
or engaged in a certification process “to
an internationally recognized standard”.
Certification improves competitiveness
in today’s markets where consumers are demanding
environmentally sound products. It provides
incentives to industry and empowers citizens
to make informed choices.
The FSC certification standard is widely
supported by non-governmental organizations
and the National Aboriginal Forestry Association
as adequately protecting forests and human
rights.
The FSC standards also promote competitiveness
by encouraging the efficient use of the
forest's multiple products and services
to ensure economic viability and a wide
range of environmental and social benefits.
The achievements of the Forest Stewardship
Council are remarkable and they certainly
merit this reward. The true prize here,
is not only in the gift itself but in the
gains to the environment that have been
brought about by the success of organizations
such as the Forest Stewardship Council.
On behalf of the Government of Canada let
me extend my sincere congratulations and
thanks to all of you.
