23 October 2003 00:13
STATEMENT - Minister Anderson welcomes entry into force of Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants
OTTAWA, Oct. 23 /CNW/ - The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, today issued the following
statement welcoming the entry into force of the regional United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocol
on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS). "The world will be a healthier place, especially in the northern region,
once we realize the full effect of the agreement that takes effect today. I congratulate those in Canada who have worked
so diligently to bring this agreement to fruition, as well as my colleagues around the world who also believe in taking
steps for a cleaner and healthier environment. In 1998, we took a significant step in protecting northern people and
ecosystems when Canada became the first country to ratify the POPs Protocol. Today marks the entry into force of that
agreement, a process that means its terms and conditions are now in effect. We are proud of Canada's role in taking
action to control the air-borne chemicals from far away that affect our people and our environment. We are also proud
that Canada was also a leader in developing the science that led to the regional Protocol, and led the rest of the world
to recognize the need to negotiate the global POPs agreement that complements the earlier agreement. Today, this
agreement is known as the Stockholm Convention and I was pleased to sign it in 2001 on Canada's behalf. At this
time we once again became the first in the world to ratify a major POPs agreement. We recognize that some countries
cannot do it alone. For that reason, Canada established a $20 million POPs Fund managed by the World Bank. This Fund
will help developing countries and countries with economies in transition to reduce or eliminate the release of POPs.
There are already a number of projects underway in the UNECE region. Canada continues to work with Mexico and the United
States under the North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) established under the Free Trade
Agreement. It is here that we are establishing regional action plans on POPs substances such as chlordane, DDT, PCBs,
dioxins, furans and hexachlorobenzene. Most POPs substances have been banned or restricted in Canada for years. They are
transported from foreign sources through the atmosphere and are more likely to settle and persist in colder climates,
like the Canadian Arctic. POPs accumulate in the food chain and pose significant risks to human health, particularly
northern Aboriginal populations dependent on traditional foods for their health and cultural survival. Recent studies
have shown that in some areas of the North, nearly half of mothers have blood levels of PCBs above the 'level of
concern.' The UNECE is a regional economic organization which includes Canada, the United States, countries in
Eastern and Western Europe and Russia. There are currently 17 countries that are a Party to the Protocol. Although this
is not global Protocol, it is strong and will help Canada continue to encourage countries that haven't already
ratified the Protocol to do so as soon as possible. Finally, I want to highlight the strong cooperation among the
Government of Canada, Aboriginal peoples, environmental non-governmental organizations, provincial and territorial
governments, and industry groups. This united national effort made us stronger and more influential
internationally." (Egalement offert en fran Ecais)
VIEW ADDITIONAL COMPANY-SPECIFIC INFORMATION: http://www.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/inquiry.cgi?OKEY=12570 /For further
information: Kelly Morgan, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of the Environment, (819) 997-1441; S
Debastien Bois, Media Relations, Environment Canada, (819) 953-4016. To receive automatic e-mail notification of all
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