News Release

Canada Provides Support for Developing Countries to Participate in United Nations Climate Change Negotiations

CANCUN, Mexico -- December 10, 2010 -- Canada’s Environment Minister John Baird announced that Canada is providing $500,000 in financial assistance to support developing countries’ attendance at United Nations meetings, including COP16.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to support developing countries participation at COP 16,” said Minister Baird.  “Such support will ensure that all countries, including the smallest and least developed, can make a contribution to the global effort to address climate change.”

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Canada for offering a generous contribution to enable delegates from developing countries to participate in the negotiations,” said Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “Ensuring active participation by all Parties is an important element of this global effort.”

This funding is part of Canada’s $400 million 2010-2011 fast-start financing under the Copenhagen Accord, which represents Canada largest-ever contribution to international efforts to fight climate change.

Under the Accord, developed countries committed to provide fast-start financing approaching US$30 billion for 2010-2012 that would help the poorest and most vulnerable countries adapt to the effects of climate change, including clean energy development and delivery, efforts to address deforestation and to enhance sustainable agriculture.

Canada will continue to work constructively to implement the Copenhagen Accord and to complete the negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for a comprehensive, legally binding post-2012 agreement that is fair, effective and comprehensive.

For further details of Canada’s fast-start financing and the funding priorities, visit: www.climatechange.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=5F50D3E9-1.

To view a photo of Minister Baird and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, please visit EC's Flickr page.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008

Environment Canada's Twitter page: http://twitter.com/environmentca

Environment Canada's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/environmentcan