Environment committee  Earth Hour, the largest public involvement event in Canada, is organized by WWF, and is participated in by 10 million Canadians and 100 million people around the world. It's a symbolic activity, to show a commitment to climate change action. Earth Hour asks you to turn off your lights, to switch off, for one hour each March. We're now building on public recognition of Earth Hour to reach more substantive conservation goals.

Environment committee  The best available science strongly supports maintaining these populations, particularly in light of climate change. The linkage between the Species at Risk Act and the national conservation plan is currently unclear. Our recommendation is that a strong Species at Risk Act can be used as a key tool to meet the purposes of the national conservation plan around managing species habitat between parks.

Environment committee  I also include climate change responses and impacts in B.C. of particular interest, such things as mountain pine beetle interactions, and we have marine impacts in the Strait of Georgia. I also think we need to draw attention to the care and protection of Canada's three oceans and their biodiversity.

Environment committee  In a global context, the scientific consensus and recognition of the present and long-term effects of climate change and biodiversity loss must not be ignored. It is important that the public and decision-makers be committed to scientifically informed choices. Do we wish to see ongoing conservation planning that is focused solely on a “last chance to see” approach around species and ecosystem protection?

Environment committee  Let me tell you that the climate change problem has been around for many years. It was one of the main topics at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. That is when Canada and other countries around the world signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Environment committee  Actually, we are going to pass down thousands of contaminated sites across the country along with the impacts of climate change. It has already been two years since we submitted a report to Parliament on the impacts of climate change, and the government said that those changes entailed economic costs.

Environment committee  I believe that the government needs to demonstrate moral and intergenerational responsibility on climate change. My question is this. Did the government demonstrate legal responsibility in complying with the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act?

Environment committee  That's where the concern is right now. The threat to polar bears is not the hunting, it's climate change, and we have no control over what's happening on climate change. If it becomes ice-free, I don't know what's going to happen to the polar bears. They may adapt. I don't know. I'm not a scientist.

Environment committee  This can help us conserve our energy resources and also mitigate the effects we are already seeing from climate change, such as urban heat island effect and increased carbon emissions. The national conservation plan should establish guidelines for no net tree loss and preserve Canada's tree canopy, particularly within cities.

Environment committee  If you're going to protect the saltwater marsh now, will it still be there 10 years from now or will it be under water? That's what I really mean about climate change and managing it.

Environment committee  Thanks to the witnesses and Ms. Gallais. I am pleased to see that you all more or less agree that the fight against climate change must be included in the national conservation plan. We cannot develop that plan if we are not first combatting climate change. There have to be very significant targets in that area.

Environment committee  They need our help to survive. What would be your recommendation around climate change? Would it be to invest in conserving and restoring natural areas in recognition that growing plants and soils remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while increasing wildlife's capacity to adapt?

Environment committee  Participants identified a number of challenges that needed to be addressed in order to integrate climate change into risk assessment and management. These include developing accurate models of climate change, developing an institutional awareness of climate change, developing expertise--biological, climatic, and technical--targeting funds for undertaking these processes, integrating climate change awareness into policy development in other social and economic sectors, and fostering long-term decision-making.

Environment committee  I just have a quick question for both of you. I will start with Mr. Young. Should the national conservation plan pay attention to climate change or action on climate change? Should this be included in our national conservation plan?

Environment committee  I would argue not just climate change, as per the content that I've shared in my opening statements. I think there's a convergence of issues that need to be considered over the land base. These issues are climate change, economic development, and the different sectors that are going to be engaging in this economic development.