Ottawa - On June 5th 2002, more than 100 countries will celebrate
the UN's World Environment Day 2002 (WED) and its theme of Give Earth
a Chance. In his message for WED, Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the
United Nations, says the theme "is meant to convey a message of
urgency - about the state of the environment and the broader quest for
sustainable development". The United Nations Association in Canada
(UNA-Canada) equally affirms that in order to Give Earth a Chance, Canada
must seriously commit to the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development
in Johannesburg, South Africa to deliver real outcomes for the environment.
UNA-Canada has been preparing for the Johannesburg Summit this past
year through its coordination of the Youth Summit Team, a group of young
Canadians that have been calling repeatedly for solid actions from the
Canadian government in light of this international event. On World Environment
Day, the Youth Summit Team emphasizes Canada's need to bring about:
· The Prime Minister's confirmed attendance at the World Summit
on Sustainable Development 2002.
· Urgent ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, especially in light
of its recent ratification by the members of the European Union and
Japan.
· A strengthened Summit agreement that includes means and modalities
for implementation, including protection of Multilateral Environmental
Agreements (MEAs) in reforming economic trade rules.
· Direct action for corporate responsibility for the environment
and an emphasis on a human-rights-based approach to sustainable development.
Far from the leadership expected for environmentally sustainable development,
Canada is increasingly under attack from the international NGO community
for joining with the United States and Australia in their resistance
to concrete timelines and targets for achieving progress at the Johannesburg
Summit. World Environment Day is a reminder of the leadership and substantive
contributions that Canada made at the original Earth Summit in 1992.
It is now unacceptable to ignore the urgent need for continued progress
in sustainable development.
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Youth Agenda 2002, the project under which the Youth Summit Team operates,
is playing a leading role in Canadian preparations for Johannesburg
through its work for the Canadian National Report Reference Group, the
WSSD Forum Steering Committee and broader NGO coalition, all official
government delegations to international Preparatory Committee meetings
and other forums for the WSSD.
For more information, please contact:
Julie Larsen -Media Relations for Youth Agenda 2002
Work: 613-232-5751 (ext 247)
Cell: 613-715-4634;
Email: julie@unac.org
