QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Conference of the Parties
November 30, 2023
I have a question for the Government Representative in the Senate.
Senator Gold, COP 28 — the global UN Climate Change Conference — opens today in Dubai, with three of our Senate colleagues in attendance. There are reports that COP 28 could be the “food Conference of the Parties, or COP,” as the world recognizes the connections between climate, nature, agriculture and food security. It’s said that the food systems of the future should have regeneration at the core, ensuring we’re giving more to nature than we’re taking from it.
The World Economic Forum report suggests that nature-positive policies could generate an estimated $10 trillion in annual business value and create 395 million jobs by 2030 while restoring and protecting nature.
Senator Gold, could you tell us what Canada is bringing forward at COP to contribute to this important food, agriculture, nature and climate conversation?
Thank you for your question, senator. COP 28 is the next significant milestone in our collective efforts to advance human security, our economic prosperity and, frankly, the health and well-being of our planet.
The government recognizes that there are great challenges ahead. The government engages in work with its partners around the world to accelerate our global efforts to reach our Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, putting that within reach.
Putting a cap on oil and gas emissions is one of the key commitments of this government’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. The government remains committed to that, and it will be working to do that with its partners during COP 28.
Thank you, although that didn’t really answer my question about the focus on food and agriculture at this COP.
Again, in regard to nature, Senator Gold, a new paper in the Nature journal predicts that restoring and protecting forests could capture 226 gigatonnes of carbon if they’re allowed to recover from degradation and deforestation — equivalent to 23 years of human emissions.
Senator Gold, will Canada be taking a leadership role at COP on matters of forestry-linked climate solutions? If so, how?
Canada is already a leader in forest management, and delivering on its promise to plant 2 billion trees. It’s on track to do that. More than 100 million trees have been planted since 2021, and there are commitments to plant 374 million more.
I’ve run out of time, but addressing climate change is central to food security. I was attempting to answer your question that way.
