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Released: 23 February, 2002
Government Of Canada Announces Funding For International Children's Conference
VICTORIA - Environment Minister David Anderson today announced $166,500
in funding for the upcoming International Children's Conference on the Environment.
The conference, organized in cooperation with the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), will take place at the University of Victoria from May 21-25,
2002.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to support the International Children's Conference on the Environment, a unique forum where children from around the world learn about and discuss environmental issues," said Minister Anderson, who is also the President of the Governing Council of UNEP. "Children need to be aware of and involved in the issues that affect the future of our world, and I look forward to meeting with delegates and sharing in their commitment to the environment."
The International Children's Conference on the Environment will be attended by 800 children from 115 countries. An important outcome of the conference will be the development of a policy-based "challenge" to the governments of the world, to be presented at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa (Rio +10) later this year.
"Today's youth are tomorrow's environmental stewards. Conferences such as the International Conference of the Environment educate our youth about environmental issues like climate change," said Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada and Minister responsible for the domestic implementation of Canada's commitment to climate change. "It is their knowledge, wisdom and choices that will determine what kind of country we'll be living in for the rest of the 21st century."
Minister Anderson made the announcement in Victoria at the International Children's Conference Junior Board inaugural meeting. The Junior Board, comprised of eight Canadian children and six children from around the world, aged 10-12, will approve decisions made by the Conference Planning Committee.
Of the total $166,500 funding, $100,000 comes from the Earth Summit 2002/Canadian Secretariat, $50,000 from the Public Education and Outreach Component of the Climate Change Action Fund and $16,500 from the Georgia Basin Ecosystem Initiative, a partnership between the governments of Canada and BC.
Government of Canada funding for these investments is built into the existing financial framework.
For further information, please contact:
Kelly Morgan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441
Heather Bala
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
(613) 996-7252
Janet Butler
Communications
Pacific and Yukon Region
Environment Canada
(604) 713-9525
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