Climate Action Network Establishes Expectations for Canada at UN Climate Negotiations in Bonn

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BONN, Germany (November 13, 2017) – 

“After a week of negotiations at this year’s United Nations climate talks, there is still a lot of hard work ahead as political leaders, including Canadian Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna, join the second week of efforts to drive global climate action.

Canadian negotiators have been making a solid, serious effort. We are looking for Minister McKenna and other political leaders to capture the momentum that has been generated in Week One and build on it to bring us closer to robust implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Calls for ambition and support from developed countries dominated discussions last week. It is clear that for COP23 to advance in a constructive manner, Ministers and Heads of State will have to reassure Parties of their plans to increase climate action in the years between 2017 and 2020, and every year thereafter. We look forward to learning how Canada and the UK’s coal phaseout alliance will help build collective ambition in the coming year, and anchor real emissions reductions from Canada’s electricity sector.  

Wealthier nations are under pressure to up the ante on climate finance, an essential element of trust building between countries. In particular, vulnerable communities are looking for funds to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change and compensation when they experience losses and damages from impacts they are not able to adapt to. Canada is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and communities within Canada – particularly Indigenous, northern, and coastal communities – are already experiencing the ravages of climate change. While we welcome the climate finance commitments already made by Minister McKenna, we know Canada can and should do better to provide support for adaptation and loss and damage going forward.

Other priorities for Week Two include laying the pathway for success of the ambition-raising discussion, known as the Talanoa Dialogue, that will take place next year at COP24 and making sure enough progress is made on the Paris Agreement “rulebook” to complete it by the 2018 deadline.” 

-30- 

CONTACT: Catherine Abreu, Executive Director, CAN-Rac Canada | +1 902 412 8953 catherineabreu@climateactionnetwork.ca

BACKGROUND: CAN-Rac’s Priorities for COP23; Opportunities for Canada to Address Loss and Damage; Canada, International Climate Finance, and Cooperative Market Mechanisms

Canada’s primary network of organizations working on climate change and energy issues, CAN-Rac is a coalition of more than 100 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.

Download the press release