The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, concluded a constructive trip to three key partner countries: Colombia, Chile, and Argentina. This was an opportunity for Canada to strengthen bilateral environmental relationships and engage in dialogue on shared environmental priorities such as fighting climate change and biodiversity loss.
In Colombia, the Minister held meetings that highlighted the importance of maintaining collaboration on environmental priorities, including biodiversity issues, and the need for a close partnership to support global ambition for the upcoming Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity negotiations in Montréal. Discussions also included other issues such as renewable energy and clean transportation.
Canada hosted the Twentieth Council session of the Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Santiago, marking the Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation's twenty-fifth anniversary. The Minister reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship with Chilean counterparts and representatives from civil society, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration on environmental issues and the advancement of ambitious climate actions.
In Argentina, the Minister's meetings provided an opportunity to hear views on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and learned of Argentina's desire to build bridges toward a positive outcome at COP15.
This December, Canada will welcome the world to Montréal for COP15 where it will continue to advocate for international collaboration on an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
