BANFF, Alberta, April 12, 2002 - Canada's Environment Minister David Anderson welcomed his counterparts from the world's largest industrialized countries to Banff today for the annual meeting of the G8 environment ministers. The ministers are meeting in advance of this year's G-8 heads of government meeting in Alberta in June.

Canadian Environment Minister David Anderson (Photo courtesy Environment Canada)

The G8 is an informal group of eight major industrial democracies – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – who meet annually to hold policy forums on key economic, social, political, and environmental issues they face at home and internationally.

Environment ministers attending the meeting at Banff this weekend are: Yves Cochet of France, Jürgen Trittin of Germany, Altero Matteoli of Italy, Hiroshi Ohki of Japan, Vitaly Artyukhov of Russia, Margaret Beckett of the United Kingdom, Christie Whitman of the United States, and Margot Wallstrom of Sweden on behalf of the European Union.

On the Road to Johannesburg has been chosen as the theme of the meeting as the discussions in Banff are intended to inform discussions at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, August 26 to September 4.

French Environment Minister Yves Cochet (Photo by Nouara Scalabre courtesy Government of France)

Anderson is deeply involved in global environmental issues this year as head of the Board of Governors of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Anderson said today that the G-8 environment ministers gathering would not contribute to global warming. Environment Canada has purchased greenhouse gas emission reductions from an energy efficiency housing project in South Africa to offset the greenhouse gases emitted by the meeting and the ministers' travel there and back.

Environment Canada has purchased wind power from an Alberta energy company, Enmax, to offset electricity used during the meeting.

Japanese Environment Minister Hiroshi Ohki (Photo courtesy Government of Japan)

"The new passive solar designed homes and community facilities to be built under this project will provide significant improvements in the quality of life, health and wellbeing of the occupants," said Dr. Abron. "At the same time, the energy efficient operation of these homes will help protect the environment by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that would otherwise have been produced."

The transaction was facilitated by greenhouse gas brokerage CO2e.com, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cantor Fitzgerald Group. Emission reductions will also be retired through the Voluntary Challenge and Registry Inc., Canada's national greenhouse gas emissions registry.

"Canada is committed to finding innovative partnerships and solutions to fight the challenges of climate change," said Anderson. "These projects demonstrate how the government and the private sector can partner to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also investing in sustainable development."

Environment Canada also offset greenhouse gases associated with the recent Health and Environment Ministers of the Americas meeting, March 4 and 5, through the purchase of emission reductions from a biomass power generation project in Brazil.

Russian Environment Minister Vitaly Artyukhov (Photo courtesy Government of the Russian Federation)

Halfway around the world at the Hague, Netherlands, Canada's reputation for environmental responsibility was tarnished as non-governmental organizations attending the 6th Conference of the Parties of the Convention of Biological Diversity handed Canada the title "Stump of the Day."

Of the 160 countries attending the conference, Canada was picked for the non-award for its "absolute abdication of responsibility as a forested nation to prioritize protection of primary forests."

With the protection of primary forest being a top priority at this convention, the Canadian delegation was given the stump for "subverting the guidelines and purpose of the Convention on Biological Diversity."

"People at the conference are shocked, said Gwen Barlee, endangered species coordinator for the Vancouver based Western Canada Wilderness Committee who is attending the conference. "Many delegates find it hard to believe that the Canadian government would turn its back on protecting primary forests.

Banff in the heavily forested Banff National Park is the location of the G-8 environment ministers' meeting. (Photo courtesy Charlie)

The Canadian government, amid much fanfare and international accolades, was the first western industrialized nation to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Rio in 1992 in which it pledged to the world to protect its biodiversity.

A decade later Canada still has no federal endangered species legislation, and clearcut logging and logging of rare primary forest make up over 80 percent of its timber extraction practices.