QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
London Convention
October 23, 2024
My question is for the Government Representative. Senator Gold, an upcoming London Convention resolution would limit marine carbon dioxide removal to small‑scale research studies. This is deeply concerning as Canada is a global leader in marine carbon dioxide research, particularly ocean alkalinity enhancement.
Dr. Anya Waite at Dalhousie University’s Ocean Frontier Institute and her team are globally recognized for their research, and Canada recently hosted the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Forum, with participation from the U.S., the U.K., the EU and Norway. There are decades of evidence demonstrating that marine carbon dioxide removal is ecology enhancing.
Senator Gold, what specific risks is this resolution trying to manage, and how can we justify stopping research, environmental and economic opportunities where Canada is already leading?
Senator, thank you for your question, and thank you for your advocacy on this issue and for educating us about it.
I regret, though, that I don’t have an answer to your specific question, but I will raise it with the minister and get back to your office when I get a response.
Thank you, Senator Gold. There is urgency to this; the meeting is next week.
Ocean alkalinity enhancement reverses damage done to the oceans while removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Perhaps you could ask the minister this: Is there any reason why the government would want to halt this promising technology and research that is being studied by global researchers and is seeing great success in our own country in combatting climate change?
I will certainly add this to my request and questions to the minister.
