The Honourable Catherine Mckenna

TALKING POINTS FOR

THE HONOURABLE CATHERINE MCKENNA

MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

STATEMENTS BY HEADS OF DELEGATIONS ON THE DUBAI PATHWAY NEGOTIATIONS

VIENNA, AUSTRIA

JULY 22, 2016

TALKING POINTS TO BE REVIEWED BASED ON OUTCOME OF OFFICIAL NEGOTIATIONS

Thank you Madame President.

Good morning/ afternoon distinguished delegates

We stand today at a crucial juncture in the history of the Montreal Protocol.We are almost ready to take ahuge step in the fight againstclimate change.

I am delighted to be here with you, attending my first Protocol meeting.The importance of this conference is not lost on me: the international community has agreed to negotiate an amendment to phase down HFCs.

[As other honourable delegates have already stated], adoption of an amendment would make a concrete and substantial contribution to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Acting on the full range of pollutants responsible for climate change will help reduce side effects such as extreme precipitation or drought. This can have a direct benefit to daily life in Canada and around the world.

It is now more than six years since Canada joined other countries, including, Mexico,theUnited States and Micronesia, in spearheading an HFC amendment under the Montreal Protocol. The journey we embarked on at that time was not always smooth.

More often than not, our enthusiasm at the start of meetings was faced with the reality that achieving our objectives would take a lot of hard work.

And yet, I know that for those who have been involved in this process, ithasbeen an extremely rewarding journey.They formed new friendships and alliances.They were enriched by the knowledge and perspectives of others.

We can all say we have deepened our understanding of the challenges faced by other countries.

I am verypleased we undertook this journey.It has now reached a critical and positive turning point.

We are putting aside our differences and working together to adoptan HFC amendmentin 2016.

No doubt, there are still many hurdles and challenges ahead. But Parties to the Montreal Protocol have a long tradition of working hardto developinnovative solutionstocomplexissues which has always allowed us toreachconsensus.

It is this collaborative and creative approach that has made the Protocol a unique example of success in the international environmental world. I am convinced that this approach will continue to guide our efforts toward adopting an ambitious amendment.

It willensure the amendment isimplemented effectively and fairly.

Canada stands ready to continue to work with all of you, in the Montreal Protocol family:

-to contribute to a frank and informed discussion on the design of an HFC amendment

-to help ensure that the concerns and circumstances of all countries are taken into account

-and to increase ourfinancial support to the Multilateral Fund to assist developing countries to implement a phase-down

I would like to thank the people of Austria for their warm hospitality. I would also like to thank the Ozone Secretariat forthe organization of this meeting and their invaluable support of the Parties to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol.

Thank you.