COP15: Daily Highlights

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 6, 2022 /CNW/ -

"We're off and running! After more than two years of pandemic delays, Montréal and Canada have stepped up to host this generationally significant conference. For Canada, I underlined our commitment to protect thirty percent of lands and waters by 2030 during this morning's opening press conference, alongside the Chinese U.N. presidency. And, led by Prime Minister Trudeau during the official opening ceremony, we announced a new investment of $350 million to support developing countries to take action on nature conservation."

     The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"We have but a few days to act decisively and with principle, and action must be bold, not bracketed, so that we can get this deal done. We got an extra two years from the scourge of COVID, let us not squander that. Rather, let us make sure that we deliver, and deliver for people and for planet, because once adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework will serve as a plan to conserve, to sustainably use and to rebuild the web of life."

     Inger Anderson, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme

Credit: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Images from the host photographer can be found on Flickr: UN Biodiversity's albums | Flickr 

• Official United Nations Opening Press Conference. Remarks by:
• COP15 President and Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, His Excellency Huang Runqiu
• Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault
• Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme, Inger Anderson
• Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema

View the press conference here: (680) (English) (Opening Press Conference) - Tuesday, 6 December 09:00 (GMT-5) - YouTube

• Ministerial statement by the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, for the opening of COP15. Read the statement here: Statement by Steven Guilbeault on the opening of COP15 - Canada.ca

• News release by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, on the opening of COP15. Read the news release here: Canada welcomes the world for COP15 to protect nature | Prime Minister of Canada (pm.gc.ca) 

• COP15 Opening ceremony. Speakers included:
• Ceremonial welcome by the traditional Chief of the Onondaga Nation, Tadodaho Sid Hill
• Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
• Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres
• Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, His Excellency Huang Runqiu
• Premier of Quebec, Mr. François Legault
• Mayor of Montréal, Her Worship Valérie Plante
• Mayor of Kunming, His Worship Liu Jiachen
• Cultural presentation presented in cooperation with Canada's National Arts Centre

• Reception hosted by the Government of China and attended by Minister Guilbeault.

Event: Canada Pavilion official opening
Time: 8:45 a.m.
Location: Canada Pavilion, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Event: Nature announcement with Prime Minister Trudeau
Time: 10:00 a.m.

Event:  Opening plenary of COP15, Part 2
Time: 10:00 a.m to 1 p.m. 
Location:  Palais des congrès de Montréal (plenary room)

Event: NatureBus: The Nature Canada tour bus has travelled across the country collecting messages that will be shared with Minister Guilbeault in Montréal.
Time: 12:00 p.m.

Event: Discussion between Minister Guilbeault, Prime Minister Trudeau and members of the Environment and Climate Change Canada Youth Council
Time: 3:30 p.m.

For more information on the daily schedule, visit the UN CBD website: Convention on Biological Diversity (cbd.int) 

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada