PETERBOROUGH, ON, July 18,
2024 /CNW/ - Nature is fundamental to capturing
harmful greenhouse gas emissions, since plants pull carbon dioxide
out of the air. That is why it's important to conserve and restore
nature as well as safeguard the places and species that are part of
our communities. The Government of Canada has launched the largest conservation
campaign in the country's history in order to meet its emissions
reduction targets and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business,
along with Adam van Koeverden,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate
Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, on
behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of
Environment and Climate Change, announced over $8.5 million in funding for two projects that
will help advance conservation efforts and protect ecosystems in
Peterborough.
The projects being funded under the Nature Smart Climate
Solutions Fund are:
- $7 million for the Kawartha Land
Trust to support its work to advance conservation efforts under way
by securing an additional 566 hectares of intact temperate forest
and freshwater coastal habitat to support 28 species at risk
- $1.586 million for the
Association of Conservation Authorities of Ontario to protect vital ecosystems from
destruction and fund activities that protect at-risk species,
including Snapping Turtle, False Hop Sedge and Chimney Swift
The Government of Canada
supports a range of nature-based climate solutions, including
planting 2 billion trees, restoring degraded ecosystems,
improving land management practices (including on agricultural
lands) and conserving land at risk of conversion to other uses.
Activities supported by the Government of Canada help mitigate climate change, build
resilience, improve water quality and provide critical habitat for
Canada's wildlife.
Quotes
"Nature is our greatest ally in the fight against climate
change. But nature needs our help. Too many of the precious and
beautiful ecosystems that we hold dear as Canadians are under
threat and need protection. Our government has launched the largest
conservation campaign in Canada's
history, with a goal of reversing biodiversity loss and protecting
30% of lands and waters by 2030. We're working with partners of all
kinds across the country to protect these carbon-rich landscapes to
save critical habitat and get us closer to our climate
goals."
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and
Climate Change
"Protecting nature is one of the best and easiest ways that we
can fight climate change. These vital ecosystems, like those here
in Peterborough, absorb carbon and increase our communities'
resilience to the effects of climate change. Our government has
launched the largest ever conservation campaign in Canada's history, with a goal of protecting
30% of lands and waters in Canada.
That starts with protecting spaces like these. The long-term
benefits are enormous, getting us closer to our climate goals and
protecting forever the critical habitat of so many species."
– The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business
"We are making progress toward Canada's important conservation goals in our
collective effort to halt and reverse the alarming global decline
of biodiversity. Working collaboratively with communities across
the country is essential to making progress. The work being done
through this funding is an excellent example of the benefits of
working together, including connecting Canadians with nature and
bringing us closer to our biodiversity goals."
– Adam van Koeverden, Parliamentary
Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to
the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity, and Member of
Parliament for Milton
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada has
set the ambitious goal of protecting 30% of lands and waters by
2030 as well as halting and reversing nature loss in Canada by 2030 and achieving a full recovery
for nature by 2050.
- Canada is home to 24% of the
world's wetlands, 25% of temperate rainforest areas and 28% of
remaining boreal forests.
- Nature-based climate solutions are a key part of Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan.
- The Government of Canada has
committed to investing $5 billion
over 10 years (2021–2031) in the Natural Climate Solutions Fund,
including $1.4 billion in Environment
and Climate Change Canada's Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund
(NSCSF).
- The NSCSF will help Canada
meet its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5–7
megatonnes annually by 2030, using nature-based climate
solutions.
Associated links
- News release: Protecting nature in British Columbia and across Canada to help fight climate change and
protect biodiversity
- Backgrounder: The Government of Canada invests in nature-based solutions to
help fight climate change and protect biodiversity across the
country
- Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund
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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada