Minister McKenna promoted collaboration, action on issues of marine litter and coastal resilience, while in Mexico

QUINTANA ROO, Mexico, March 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada understands the critical importance of the oceans to biodiversity, communities, people, and the economy. The Government of Canada is committed to taking action and showing international leadership for the world's oceans, including through its G7 presidency this year.

On Friday, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, completed her program at the World Ocean Summit, hosted by The Economist. She was joined at the Summit by Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Coast Guard, Terry Beech.

Minister McKenna and Parliamentary Secretary Beech participated in the Asamblea del Océano Pacífico. They joined ministers from Latin American countries, as well as business and civil society leaders, to discuss current and future risks to the health of the world's oceans and to identify global solutions.

At the World Ocean Summit, Minister McKenna hosted round-table discussions with leaders from government, industry, civil society, as well as with scientists, to discuss Canada's G7 leadership and topics ranging from marine litter to innovative financing models to build more resilient coastal communities. Minister McKenna also gave a keynote interview about women leadership in climate and oceans, and she announced that, in May, she will host a conference of women climate leaders from around the world to support preparations for Canada's G7 presidency. The summit will help advance global climate action, the empowerment of women, and gender equality.

While at the Summit, Parliamentary Secretary Beech met with leaders in ocean conservation from around the world, including UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson. They discussed Canada's leadership on the ocean agenda on matters including marine conservation and investments in science. Parliamentary Secretary Beech also participated in a panel discussion during which he spoke about Canada's approach to developing and establishing effective ocean policies.

Minister McKenna also met with the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, and the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico, Rafael Pacchiano Alamán, and they discussed the importance of joint action on ocean health and collaboration on trade, including in the context of NAFTA.

Quotes

"With the longest coastline in the world, bordering on three oceans, Canada understands the critical importance of the oceans to biodiversity, to the economy, and to communities and people. Through the G7, Canada is proud to be tackling marine litter. At the World Ocean Summit, I had key conversations with experts, which will help guide our approach to tackling this challenge."
– Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"The ocean connects us all. It is a source of environmental and economic abundance. However, the ocean is at risk, and we need to work with our international partners to protect and restore the ocean for future generations. Science is at the heart of Canada's ocean leadership, and we are committed to working at home and internationally to ensure the sustainable use of the ocean."
–Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Quick Facts

• One of Canada's G7 themes is working together on climate change, oceans, and clean energy.
• Oceans produce half of the oxygen we breathe.
• There are more than 150 million tonnes of plastic waste in the oceans.

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada