Canada’s conservation goals must be enshrined in law to ensure they are met, Steven Guilbeault said Thursday at the 15e United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15), in Montreal.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change made the claim during a table discussion on Canada’s commitment to halt and reverse the decline of biodiversity by 2030.
“As we are doing with climate change, an accountability act to enshrine our 2030 nature protection target in law is needed,” he said.
The minister had just recalled that his government promises to protect 25% of Canadian lands and waters by 2025, and 30% by 2030.
Minister Guilbeault’s statement was applauded by various environmental organizations, Greenpeace Canada citing in a press release “excellent news for nature and wildlife across Canada”.
“We need legislation that holds federal and provincial governments to account for delivering on the ambitions and promises made at COP15, and for achieving biodiversity goals in a way that respects human rights and sovereignty of Indigenous peoples,” said Melanie Snow, Ecojustice Legislative Affairs Specialist.