Environment committee  Chair, I don't think you quite understood my question for the witnesses. Let me reword it. How is the fight against climate change important for habitat conservation and for your companies' productivity? Of course, you are also concerned about productivity. In that respect, the fight against climate change is crucial.

Environment committee  However, the cumulative benefits of these programs extend well beyond conserving and restoring habitat for at-risk wildlife. They also serve to support climate change initiatives through natural sequestration of carbon dioxide and to strengthen the resiliency of woodland ecosystems to withstand the effects of climate change. Another off-site initiative that we are very proud of is our sponsorship of Earth Rangers projects to bring back the wild American badger and the spotted turtle.

Environment committee  I would like to continue talking about the importance of wetlands in the fight against climate change. My colleague Ms. Quach also mentioned that wetlands are environmental goods and services and that they allow us to better adapt to climate change, which is a scourge right now. In my view and according to the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy and the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, the Conservatives have not done enough to address this problem and will unfortunately not meet their target for 2020.

Environment committee  It tries to look at a mixture of activities whereby we can help developing countries deal with their efforts to try either to mitigate climate change or to adapt to climate change. Parks Canada has been part of that. We talked earlier about CIDA and some of the projects it has participated in to try to help some of the poorest countries adapt to climate change.

Environment committee  On the international stage, we are focused on achieving a new, legally binding global agreement on climate change that covers all major emitters. We are honouring our United Nations commitments under the Copenhagen accord by implementing a domestic regulatory plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Environment committee  All right. So all that could offset climate change. You also addressed the issue of water levels. We often hear that the water levels in the St. Lawrence have constantly fallen in recent years. How do you think establishing a network of wetlands could help offset the effects of climate change and perhaps even improve our planet?

Environment committee  Unfortunately, the Conservative government recently cut funding for basic science in several areas. That does not help in effectively combating climate change or appropriately conserving biodiversity. I think your first recommendation is really very appropriate. The idea would be to have a national wetland inventory. Could you elaborate on your thinking on that subject?

Environment committee  I think it's just the first of what we will see in the coming decades by way of more concerted efforts to plan for adapting to climate change, and habitat conservation will have to be an important part of those plans.

Environment committee  In terms of the impacts on habitat, those are a little bit slower to come. We're seeing those threats, climate change in particular, appear as specific threats mentioned in assessing species at risk a little more frequently as time goes on. Again, we have to specifically understand what we mean by the impacts of climate change.

Environment committee  The 2010 report by the Expert Panel on Biodiversity Science states that “biodiversity is being lost...at a rate unprecedented in human history”. You talked about climate change, among other things. What are the consequences of global warming on the planet and biodiversity and, what should the federal government be doing to better fight climate change, which is disastrous for habitat conservation?

Environment committee  My colleague, Jeannette Whitton, listed the major reasons for placing species at risk currently. She didn't mention climate change because, so far, it has not been. Our climate is changing so rapidly and scientists have been able to track the movement rates of species to match the warming climate. For many species it is not fast enough.

Environment committee  Over the course of our study on habitat conservation, we've spoken about melting glaciers, drought , etc. These will have significant consequences. The issue of climate change and how it will have a negative influence on habitat conservation has also been raised. Would you also recommend that this committee undertake a separate study on climate change?

Environment committee  As a review of federal lands, how they contribute to assisting with, for example, carbon sequestration and things like that, I think it should be rolled into your work. It's a big topic, so I'm not sure—climate change as a whole—but maybe parcel it out and see what contribution federal lands should be making to things like working with climate change issues, including carbon sequestration.

Environment committee  So do grasslands. Conserving habitat and a habitat conservation plan would certainly help to adapt to climate change, including some mitigation measures. But I think bringing up the regulatory approach around climate change and greenhouse gas emissions might be a bit of a stretch for today's scope, and I'd ask you if that's the case.

Environment committee  It is fair to say on climate change and clean air that we're moving aggressively on that front. The minister outlined what we're doing in transportation. We have moved forward with the coal-fired electricity; now we're doing oil and gas regulations.