Trudeau talks climate, U.S.
PM holds news conference in NOTL on Environment Day
Canada is “all in” when it comes to fighting climate change, regardless of what U.S. President Donald Trump chooses to do, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Canada will not back down from our commitment to fight climate change. And we are not alone,” Trudeau said during a short news conference in Niagara-on-the-Lake late Monday morning.
“Around the world, nearly every country is on our side. Business is on our side. Science is on our side. And together our efforts will make a difference.”
In his most fulsome comments about climate change since Trump abandoned the Paris Accord last week, Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the agreement Monday after making an appearance
on the Live with Kelly & Ryan show in Niagara Falls.
The prime minister, joined by Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna and United Nations Environment executive director Erik Solheim, kayaked to Queen’s Royal Park from Navy Hall with a group of Grimsby students before holding a short news conference. Although the conference was ostensibly about World Environment Day, there was no avoiding the biggest environmental story in the world — Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Accord.
The decision has been roundly criticised by several heads of state, business leaders and even other American politicians.
Trudeau said Trump’s decision will not deter Canada from following through with its commitment to the accord.
“For those of you feeling worried today, worried about our planet’s future, and what that means for you and your family down the road, I want you to know we hear you. Canada hears you,” Trudeau said. “We share your concerns, and we know inaction is not an option. We can’t walk away from the reality of climate change, and we won’t walk away from a global plan that has a realistic chance of fighting it.”
Trudeau did not take questions from journalists after the news conference.
In an interview with The Standard after the prime minister’s remarks, McKenna said Canada isn’t changing course, and if the White House is stepping away from fighting climate change, Canada is “stepping up” and there are others in the U.S. who will stay the course.
“We are also working very closely with states, with cities in the United States and business in the United States,” said McKenna who on Friday spoke with Jerry Brown, the governor of California, and Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington state who both affirmed their commitment to the Paris Accord.
“In fact, Marc Garneau, my colleague and the minister of transport, happened to be in Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh was mentioned (by Trump),” McKenna said, referring to Trump’s remark that he represents Pittsburgh, not Paris, when he announced he was pulling out of the accord. “And the mayor of Pittsburgh said he is all in when it comes to the Paris agreement.”
McKenna said she tried to advise the Trump administration on the Paris Accord, emphasizing the agreement’s importance and flexibility.
“I just said, ‘Look, we need to be acting on climate change. We all see the impacts and the United States has seen the impacts as well,’” she said. “The Paris agreement is a flexible agreement. Each country decides on their own actions to tackle climate change. And the U.S. administration has the opportunity to join the rest of the world and do the right thing,”
Even while Ottawa seeks to work with governors, members of Congress and mayors on climate change, McKenna said the federal government will still work with the White House on critical issues such as trade and other environmental concerns.
She said she has recently urged Washington to devote more resources to the conservation of the Great Lakes.
During his remarks, Trudeau told some gathered school children that combating climate change is a fight for their future. However, he said the task at hand is not about stopping climate change, but rather adapting to its effects and preventing it from getting worse.
“Now, I don’t want to offer false hope. The truth is we can’t turn back the clock. We can’t cool down the atmosphere. That damage is done, damage that was set in motion generations ago,” he said.
“But neither should we be discouraged because the future is still bright for those who have the courage to confront hard truths and confidence to stay the course.“