Canadian and International Business Support Biodiversity Conservation
Third Meeting of the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity
Sheraton Montreal Airport Hotel, 555 McMillan Avenue, Montréal (Québec) Canada
OTTAWA, Oct. 2, 2013 /CNW/ - The Third Meeting of the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity, hosted jointly by the Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council and the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, is being held in Montreal, October 2-3.
Businesses in Canada and around the world need to play a lead role in conserving the planet's biodiversity. The purpose of the Montreal meeting is to provide businesses and other stakeholders with the encouragement and information needed to facilitate mainstreaming of biodiversity in their general activities, provide a forum for businesses and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and give feedback and recommendations to global and national decision makers and strengthen the Global Partnership by bringing together the national and regional initiatives.
"The lives and livelihoods of all people, including Canadians, depend on the goods and services that nature provides. In order to maintain global economic wealth in the long term we must ensure that our business interests are pursued in harmony with our environmental goals. I am encouraged by the excellent response of business and other stakeholders at this meeting and congratulate them in taking positive steps toward the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity," said Mr. Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Twenty five countries are participating in this one and one half day event in Montreal. Panel sessions are across business sectors and include agriculture, extractives, standards, safeguards and mechanisms, access and benefit sharing, supply chain, retail/consumer goods, sustainable public procurement and engagement of stake holders. Presentation and discussion topics range from conservation and sustainable use policies, rehabilitation of sites and species to research projects funded and implemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.
"It is very encouraging to see global companies, including Canada, taking action to promote the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in so many ways. I hope this meeting inspires other businesses across all sectors, including small and medium-size enterprises, to get involved in the sustainable use and conservation of our natural resources" says Luc Robitaille, Corporate Director Environment, Holcim (Canada) Inc. and Chair of the Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council.
To learn more about the Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council please visit our website at www.businessbiodiversity.ca or contact Reg Melanson, Executive Director, by phone at (613) 203-0063, or email at [email protected].
SOURCE: Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council
Reg Melanson
Executive Director, Canadian Business and Biodiversity Council
Phone: (613) 203-0063
Email: [email protected]
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