News Release

For immediate release
June 18, 2007

ONTARIO AND NEW BRUNSWICK PLEDGE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY; Agreement Displays Strong Leadership and Makes for Greener, Healthier Provinces

TORONTO — Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten and New Brunswick Minister of the Environment Roland Haché today signed an agreement to work together to fight climate change and reduce transboundary air pollution, signaling a new era of bilateral environmental cooperation. The agreement was signed at the 2007 Shared Air Summit in Toronto.

“This agreement, like the Summit itself, is about working with our neighbours to clean our air and taking firm action on climate change,” said Broten. “This accord will accomplish both by protecting the health and well-being of our citizens and our shared environments.”

The Agreement to Reduce Transboundary Air Pollution, Improve Regional Air Quality and Address Climate Change will encourage mutual understanding and cooperation on transboundary air quality impacts and climate change between the two provinces. This includes:

• Promoting the sharing of information and expertise on the impacts of transboundary air pollution and climate change
• Implementing measures to prevent transboundary environmental impacts
• Apprising and consulting each province on activities related to atmospheric pollutants
• Encouraging the sharing of policy, planning and scientific expertise for regional air quality issues
• Consulting and coordinating on climate change issues

“Both of our governments agree that we must take strong and immediate action on climate change and transboundary air pollution,” said Haché. “This agreement shows that New Brunswick and Ontario are serious about working together to tackle these very real and linked threats.”

Building on the successes of the first two events, Shared Air Summit 2007 assembled a vital and important audience of nearly 500 prominent leaders and decision-makers drawn from government, industry, academia and the environmental sectors. The international lineup of climate change champions at the Summit addressed the need for strong and positive actions on climate change and transboundary air pollution along with their related impacts on the health, environment and economies on Ontario, New Brunswick and the global community.

For New Brunswick, this conference follows the release of the New Brunswick Climate Change Action Plan.  This Action Plan identifies strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels in 2012.  New Brunswick is committed to reducing emissions by 10% below 1990 levels in 2020.

For more information, please see the attached Agreement to Reduce Transboundary Air Pollution, Improve Regional Air Quality and Address Climate Change.

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For further information:
Anne O’Hagan Minister Broten’s Office 416-325-5809 John Steele Communications Branch (ON) 416-314-6666	Rachel Kieley Minister Haché’s office 506-444-5136 Marie-Josée Groulx Communications Branch (NB) 506-453-3700
Contact information for the general public: 416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923/ www.ene.gov.on.ca

 

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