Joint Meeting of Energy and Environment Ministers

Charlottetown, May 21, 2002 - Canadian Energy and Environment Ministers met today to discuss climate change and reiterated their commitment to take effective action on climate change. They reviewed a Discussion Paper on Canada's Contribution to Addressing Climate Change, presented by the federal government. This federal paper puts forward a number of options for reaching Canada's Kyoto target and is intended to promote discussion on how to move forward in addressing climate change. Ministers also discussed a proposal presented by Alberta.

At the last Joint Meeting of Ministers of Energy and Environment (JMM) in February, federal ministers undertook to develop a paper and bring it forward to this meeting. The paper will serve as the focus for upcoming national stakeholder workshops taking place in 14 cities across Canada from June 7 to 24^th. Provincial or territorial governments may put forward other papers, such as Alberta's, as additional material for workshops in their respective jurisdictions. Following these consultations, a draft implementation plan to address climate change for achieving Canada's Kyoto target will be developed for joint consideration at a future JMM.

Ministers were presented with preliminary analyses on a number of broad policy approaches to achieving a Kyoto target. The initial results are useful in further understanding the implications of ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.

Given that climate change is already having an effect on our economy, health, safety and ecosystems, with environmental effects being felt particularly in the North, Ministers agreed to a National Adaptation Framework designed to help jurisdictions develop adaptation strategies to deal with the impact of climate change. The goal of the National Adaptation Framework is to identify areas in which all jurisdictions can work together to develop tools to improve adaptation across Canada.

Governments have been working with the electricity sector to evaluate the feasibility of covenants or agreements to improve the sector's greenhouse gas emissions performance. Ministers took note of progress on this issue and agreed to a work plan to carry this work forward. Ministers also agreed that officials would pursue implementation of the technology development work plan and the strategic framework for working collaboratively on issues related to health and climate change.

Ministers released Canada's National Climate Change Business Plan 2002, which outlines current federal, provincial, territorial and non-governmental initiatives designed to address climate change. This plan is a follow up to Canada's First National Climate Change Business Plan released in the fall of 2000, and for the first time, includes a variety of illustrative private sector, municipal, and other public organizations' initiatives. The plan includes a range of individual and partnership programs, measures and initiatives designed to reduce GHG emissions in Canada.

Finally, Ministers agreed to meet again in October to consider the results and analysis of the preliminary plan developed over the summer. Ministers will also identify the topics of the second round of discussions with stakeholders and the Canadian public. Ministers also agreed to meet after CoP8.

* Alberta is not in agreement with this communiqué.

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