This week, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable François‑Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Labour, and government officials participated in GLOBE Forum 2022, a meeting with business leaders and innovators working to advance the transition to a clean growth economy.
A key highlight of the conference was the announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Canada's Next Steps for Clean Air and a Strong Economy, along with Minister Guilbeault on Tuesday. An important early deliverable under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, the plan is a sector-by-sector roadmap of measures needed for Canada to reach its ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of at least 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, and net-zero emissions by 2050. The 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan roadmap will help Canada, in collaboration with provincial and territorial partners, achieve its climate goals in a fair and affordable way. From transportation to the oil and gas sector, to heavy industry, agriculture, buildings and waste, every sector in every region has a role to play in meeting Canada's 2030 climate target. The plan includes $9.1 billion in new investments and a suite of new measures to help mobilize Canada towards becoming a truly sustainable economy and a leading competitor in the global transition to cleaner industries and technologies.
On Wednesday, Minister Guilbeault participated in an armchair discussion on the urgent need for more climate adaptation and preparedness to respond to Canada's rapidly changing climate. The Minister also participated in a roundtable led by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, including representatives from the insurance industry, professional associations, national Indigenous organizations, government officials, and others, on the development of Canada's first National Adaptation Strategy, which will outline how the Canadian economy and society can become more resilient to and prepared for the impacts of climate change.
On the margins of GLOBE, Member of Parliament Patrick Weiler announced that Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Hazards Information Service has installed the first of hundreds of sensors for the national Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) System at the British Columbia Ferry Terminal in Horseshoe Bay. The EEW system provides seconds to tens of seconds of notice before strong shaking starts, warnings that can help reduce injuries, deaths and property losses. It will be used to generate alerts for critical infrastructure, industry and the public, helping to protect people, communities, infrastructure, and the environment during an event where every second counts.
Minister Wilkinson participated in an armchair discussion with U.S. Ambassador Cohen on advancing towards a net-zero energy future. The Minister also met with several leading Canadian cleantech firms, including those on the 2022 Global Cleantech 100 list. An investment of over $12 million was announced, through NRCan's Clean Growth and Energy Innovation Programs, to support the continued work of seven organizations in advancing innovative clean technologies. Lastly, grand prize winners of three separate NRCan Impact Canada challenges-Sky's the Limit, Charging the Future, and Power Forward-were announced. The winners were awarded a total of $7 million to advance their sustainable aviation fuel, battery, and smart grid solutions.
Also at GLOBE, Minister Champagne announced over $27 million in Sustainable Development Technology Canada investments in clean tech and climate technology, as well as a call to action to industry to put forward high-impact projects that will support the decarbonization of key sectors of Canada's economy with support from the Net Zero Accelerator.
Minister O'Regan Jr. participated in an armchair discussion on the path to creating sustainable jobs across Canada and the opportunity to leverage the skills, expertise and ingenuity of energy workers as we lower emissions and build up renewables. He also spoke to Leading Change Canada youth delegates and joined a roundtable with Canadian Business for Social Responsibility on building sustainable supply chains to help Canada meet its climate targets and uphold human rights around the world.
