December 16, 2009

Thank you, Monsieur Duhaime, for your kind introduction.

I want to thank Mrs. Dia Touré and her team at l'Institut de l'énergie et de l'environnement de la Francophonie for the excellent work they have done to prepare for today's meeting. I would like to thank all of you for being here.

Here at Copenhagen, few organizations can speak with the authority of La Francophonie on the need for a global effort on climate change.  We speak for both developed and developing economies; for both energy producers and consumers.  We speak from many perspectives but with a sense of unity, forged by history, and shaped by our common language.

The Francophonie gives a voice to those countries that are the most vulnerable to climate change. 

The Francophonie also gives voice to those countries that have the capacity to lead, to help, and to provide solutions.

Countries at the forefront of research, development and deployment - countries that are creating sustainable technologies for a greener economy.  Countries that can lead and share knowledges, on the basis of their economic strength.

From different perspectives and experiences, we work together on our vision for the future.  We pursue the goals that Leaders from La Francophonie set forth in October, 2008, at the 12th Summit in Quebec City. 

We will include climate change issues in our development policies, and transfer the technology that will help all countries address a problem that knows no borders.  We will address the profound issues that are affected by climate change - from the quality of our water to the biodiversity of our ecosystems.  We will build upon our strengths as partners in la Francophonie.

For our part, Canada's objectives are clear, transparent, and based on five principles. 

First, we will balance environmental protection with economic prosperity. 

Second, we will maintain a long-term focus.  We will put in place today the policies that will contribute to the goal of reducing global emissions by 50 percent by 2050.

Third, we will work with our international partners to seek commitments from all major economies including all major emitters. At the same time we support the least developed countries who do not have the resources to manage climate change and adaptation.  At the Quebec Summit Prime Minister Harper announced that Canada would dedicate $100 million to international climate change adaptation to assist those countries that are especially vulnerable.

Fourth, we will continue to invest in the research, development and deployment of clean technologies, and transfer those technologies to where they are most needed.

And fifth, we will support constructive and ambitious global action. 

Canada's message at Copenhagen is simple: Canada will be a positive force in order to get an agreement. Canada will do its share to fight the problem of climate change.

We apply these principles in our domestic and international agendas.  But Canada's strength in the global economy comes, in large part, from the integration of our economy within a North American marketplace.  Our responses to climate change must be integrated within a North American response.

Canada has committed to a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 by 2020.  This is an ambitious but realistic goal for a country of extreme temperatures, such long distances, energy-intensive industries, and a growing population.

We will continue to work hand and glove with the Obama Administration, aligning our climate change policies.

We work with our American neighbours on the Clean Energy Dialogue launched by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama earlier this year. And we will continue to contribute our economic and technological strength to North American solutions that will be an integral part to global solutions to climate change.

Ladies and gentlemen - colleagues - each country of la Francophonie brings positivement different challenges and different capacities to the global challenge of climate change.  Canada brings our potential to integrate efforts on a North American basis.  We bring, as well, our capacity for innovation and the development of clean energy.  We are a country, after all, that has set our goal at 90 percent of electricity from clean energy sources by 2020.

Canada brings her robust natural environment - the huge expanses of wild regions that serve as the lungs of our mother planet, absorbing carbon dioxide, and breathing out the oxygen. 

Canada's wilderness areas provide solutions to climate change.  But they also remind us of the vulnerability of fragile ecosystems.  They are an inspiration to us, but they are also a stark reminder of what is at stake if we do not reduce emissions. 

La Francophonie brings many voices and many perspectives to bear.  We have many challenges to address and many solutions to offer.

I look forward to our discussion and I look forward to a constructive and successful collaboration.