LONDON, UK – The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, today told delegates at the London Energy Meeting that the Government of Canada is committed to both securing Canada's energy future and tackling climate change.
Discussions at the London Energy Meeting focused on curbing extreme volatility in oil markets through improving transparency, encouraging investment in infrastructure and skills development, maximizing energy efficiency and investing in low-carbon energy alternatives. The impacts of the global financial crisis on energy markets were also discussed.
As a clear leader in balancing environmental responsibility with economic development, Canada took a prominent role in discussions about applying this balance on a global scale.
In advance of the London meeting, Minister Raitt announced that Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) have signed the Canada–UK Joint Statement on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) – agreeing to work closely to develop and promote CCS technologies.
"Canada is a world leader in carbon capture and storage, and we are in an excellent position to use this technology on a large scale," said Minister Raitt. "This agreement with the UK is a concrete example of our government's commitment to developing Canada's conventional energy resources in a prudent and responsible manner."
The agreement states that both governments will exchange experience and information on matters like the development of regulatory frameworks, mechanisms for deploying CCS projects in developed and developing countries and the demonstration of key elements of the CCS chain. In addition, Canada and the UK will share what they learn from their respective commercial-scale demonstration projects.
The London Energy Meeting, attended by delegates from 38 oil producing and consuming countries, is a follow-up to last June's Jeddah Energy Meeting in Saudi Arabia, which was called in response to rapidly rising oil prices worldwide.
Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt today told delegates at the London Energy Meeting that Canada's government is committed to both securing a clean energy future and tackling climate change. A world leader in balancing environmental responsibility with economic development, Canada is taking a lead role in discussions about applying this balance on a global scale.
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