Canada's International Action

Canada recognizes that climate change is a global challenge requiring a global solution. Canada supports an approach to climate change that achieves real environmental and economic benefits for all Canadians. 

As a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Canada views this process as the most effective and inclusive way to achieve measurable and verifiable progress on climate change. For example, through this process, Canada will continue to support the Durban Platform and the establishment of a fair and comprehensive global climate change regime by 2015 that will effectively address global climate change and serve Canadian interests.

In addition, Canada is committed to working with developing countries to help them achieve their greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals and adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. Our international support is comprised of a wide range of programs and initiatives that addresses mitigation, clean energy technology, sustainable forestry, and adaptation to climate change by the world's most vulnerable countries. These initiatives include Canada`s fast-start financing contribution of $1.2 billion for the fiscal years 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/2013 as announced by Minister Kent on December 5, 2011 in Durban.

Canada's implementation of the UNFCCC is also complemented by our participation in key international partnerships, such as:

• the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), where Canada is one of the leading countries in a concerted action on short lived climate pollutants (SLCPs);
• the Major Economies Forum (MEF) on Energy and Climate (MEF), an initiative launched in March 2009 to bring together the world's 17 largest emitters to advance key issues under consideration in international climate change negotiations; and;
• the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), a voluntary initiative that serves as an international framework to promote cost-effective methane recovery and use as a clean energy source;
• the REDD + Partnership, which serves as a platform to scale up actions and finance to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) in developing countries;