Climate change: Québec participates in the United Nations conference in Marrakech

QUÉBEC, Nov. 12, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) is taking place in Marrakech, Morocco, from November 7 to 18, 2016. The Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, David Heurtel, will be a member of the Québec delegation led by the premier of Québec, Philippe Couillard. The minister's mission will extend from November 12 to 17.

During the conference, the minister will continue to assert the commitment of federated states that, like Québec, are leading players in the fight against climate change. Several forums will afford him an opportunity to promote the various initiatives that have been implemented in Québec to the international community. These include the Québec-California carbon market, which Ontario will soon join and which is the world's only cross-border market in operation, as well as Québec's climate change and transportation electrification action plans. These initiatives help make Québec a leader in the fight against climate change in Canada, North America and internationally. Minister Heurtel will participate in several events in parallel to COP22 and will meet with Québec's strategic partners to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral alliances.

The Marrakech Conference is bringing together thousands of participants from around the world, including government officials, scientists and civil society representatives. Some believe that if COP21 was a conference for major decision-making, COP22 must be a conference for action, especially in terms of cooperation and climate funding, particularly regarding island countries and African states, as well as with respect to climate change adaptation and technology transfer.

"The Paris Agreement gave international legitimacy to carbon market mechanisms and acknowledged the importance of engagement by all levels of government and other stakeholders in the fight against climate change. I am therefore going to Morocco filled with the immense pride we take in the outcomes that have been achieved in Québec in this regard and with the conviction that we can inspire other states in their future commitments to foster greater universal solidarity in the face of this major challenge of the 21st century," said Minister David Heurtel before his departure to Marrakech today.

SOURCE Cabinet du ministre du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques

Media Relations, Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, Tel.: [phone]; Source: Emilie Simard, Press Officer, Office of the Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, Tel.: [phone]