COP15: Daily highlights – December 7, 2022

Montréal, Quebec – December 7, 2022

MINISTER’S THOUGHT OF THE DAY

“Indigenous-led conservation was front and centre Wednesday, at COP15. One of our top priorities at the 12-day Nature COP is to show the world that Canada’s model for conservation is done in full partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Prime Minister Trudeau announced up to $800 million over seven years to support up to four Indigenous-led conservation initiatives, including one in the Northwest Territories that could become the world’s largest Indigenous-led project of its type. Canada can only succeed in achieving our goal of protecting 30 percent of land and water by 2030 by incorporating Indigenous Knowledge, derived from their experience as guardians of the land, water, and ice.”

Quote of the day

“I think that’s what needs to be shared with everybody. Is that we’re not above the land, we’re not better than the land. It’s always been that our people have always existed together. And the ecosystem, the land, the water, they won’t have a space to continue to thrive and exist if we don’t continue to protect that space for them, and for our communities.”

Stephanie Thorassie, Executive Director, Seal River Watershed Alliance
(Member of the Sayisi Dene First Nation)

Photo of the day

Credit: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Access to the host photographer images can be found here: UN Biodiversity’s albums | Flickr

Daily event summary: December 7, 2022

• The official opening of the Canada Pavilion at COP15.
• Announcement for funding by Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, along with Minister Steven Guilbeault, to support Indigenous-led Project Finance for Permanence projects. Read the news release.
• Opening Plenary of COP15, Part 2. Watch the session here: YouTube
• NatureBus: The Nature Canada tour bus travelled across the country, collecting messages that were shared with Minister Steven Guilbeault for the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Montréal.
• Discussion between Minister Guilbeault, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and the Environment and Climate Change Youth Council.

Upcoming event summary: December 8, 2022

Event: Nature Canada event: Bird-friendly cities (announcement)
Time: 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Canada Pavilion, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Event: SNAP Quebec event: Joining the dialogue: Solutions to the underlying causes of biodiversity loss (panel discussion)
Time: 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. .
Location: Palais des congrès de Montréal (multi-purpose room)

For more information on the daily schedule, visit the UN CBD website: Convention on Biological Diversity (cbd.int).