OTTAWA AND TORONTO – Liberal Natural Resources critic David McGuinty and Liberal Environment critic Dr. Kirsty Duncan made the following statement today in advance of the opening of the 2012 European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy World Sustainable Energy Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Liberals warmly welcome the United Nations’ designation of 2012 as the World Year of Sustainable Energy. There can be no doubt that encouraging member countries to implement sustainable energy strategies is imperative. Liberals understand that the groundwork for sustainability must be laid in a manner that is both environmentally and economically advantageous – and that a vibrant 21st Century world economy is dependent on such innovation,” said Mr. McGuinty.
“In June 2012, the world will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the historic Rio Conference on Environment and Development – a conference that will forever be remembered for coining the term ‘sustainable development’. Now, more than ever, it is time for nations to recognize that time is of the essence if we are to be true to those words and reverse the damaging effects of climate change,” he concluded.
“The World Sustainable Energy Conference in Geneva is a critical step on the road to the UN Rio + 20 Conference on Sustainable Development scheduled for June,” added Dr. Duncan. “Europeans will be seeking solutions and consensus on green job creation strategies and we wish them every success.”
Concluded Dr. Duncan, “Liberals will be closely monitoring all developments leading up to Rio + 20, and we urge the Conservative government to take a leadership role at that Conference instead of the obstructionist role recently taken at Durban where Canada abandoned previously agreed upon international climate change obligations. Liberals are also calling on the government, in this World Year of Sustainable Energy, to review any gaps in the implementation of Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. ”
