Media Release: CELA applauds Federal announcement of $2.65 billion in global climate investment

Media Release

Toronto – The Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) applauds Prime Minister Trudeau’s pledge to contribute $2.65 billion over the next five years to help developing countries mitigate their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate change. Under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord, Canada committed to work with partners to mobilize US $100 billion for this purpose annually by 2020.

 Climate change disproportionately impacts developing countries because most lack the resources and capital required to shift fuel sources and adapt to changing weather patterns. As a developed country with a relatively large GHG footprint, Canada is ideally poised to help and has a moral obligation to do so.

 “Acting on the commitment for the climate fund for the global south is very important and helps world’s most vulnerable,” says Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association.

 Environmental NGOs such as the Climate Action Network and the Green Budget Coalition have priced Canada’s fair contribution at 4 billion over the next five years, but the Prime Minister’s announcement nevertheless represents an important increase over previous levels of funding. “CELA supports this commitment from the Federal government, and we look forward to future announcements,” says McClenaghan.

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