Ottawa, November 8, 2005 The Honorable Stéphane
Dion will visit the Spanish cities of Madrid and Zaragoza from November
9 - 11, 2005, where he will participate in a seminar on climate change
and meet with his Spanish and Colombian counterparts in preparation for
the upcoming Montréal 2005 United Nations Climate Change
Conference. A key objective of the trip is to continue the dialogue on
Canada's approach at the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11)
to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. This dialogue is
part of Canada's broad international engagement on climate change.
"The discussions in Spain will be an excellent opportunity to
share Canada's views on what we hope to see happen in Montreal
in terms of strengthening Kyoto and setting the agenda for a future global
action that is effective and inclusive," said Minister Dion.
While in Madrid, Minister Dion will deliver a speech at a seminar entitled
Climate Change: Opportunities in Latin America, co-organized by Gas Natural
and the Spanish Ministry of Environment. The Minister will provide participants
from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil and Portugal with an overview
of what he hopes will take place in Montreal on progress towards implementing
and improving the Kyoto Protocol and prompting effective discussions
on global action in the longer term.
As part of his continued effort to actively consult other countries
in advance of Montréal 2005, Minister Dion will meet with the
Spanish Environment Minister Cristina Narbona Ruiz.
While in Zaragoza, the Minister will meet with officials from the Centre
Carbo-chimique to discuss a project related to greenhouse gas transformation
to electricity. Also at a conference in Zaragoza, Minister Dion will
deliver a speech entitled "Canadian Federalism and its Projection
on the Spanish Model."
"As Host of the UN Climate Change Conference, we have held more
than 150 bilaterals with over 40 key countries to pave the way for productive
discussions at the conference on an effective, long-term global approach
to climate change," said Minister Dion.
The Montreal Conference
will take place from November 28 to December 9, 2005.
For more information, please contact:
André Lamarre
Director of communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441
Sébastien Bois
Media Relations
Environment Canada
(819) 953-4016
