TORONTO, November 10, 1997 -- Only one month before a crucial international meeting in Kyoto, Japan to negotiate an agreement on greenhouse gases, the Canadian public is caught in a crossfire of claims and counter claims surrounding the climate change debate. The issue has been hotly debated in Parliament and in the media. On Monday, November 17, the Centre for Applied Sustainability at York University's Faculty of Environmental Studies will host one of five cross-Canada day-long briefings to provide comprehensive and balanced answers to lingering scientific, economic and public policy questions about climate change.

The briefing at York University is one of five organized by the Canadian Global Change Program of the Royal Society of Canada and university partners across the country. Similar sessions have been or will be held in Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax. The goal is to provide decision makers in business, public interest organizations, government and environmental groups with credible scientific information about climate change.

David Bell, the Director of the York Centre for Applied Sustainability in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, sets out the context: Business lobbies such as the Business Council on National Issues argue for a cautious approach to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental groups and some business interests such as the insurance industry argue for action now. There is a scientific consensus that humans are causing serious damage to the planet through the emission of greenhouse gases. But a minority of scientists refutes these claims, and denies the need for action. And the Canadian government is caught in the middle of all this, with the difficult task of developing an acceptable Canadian position in Kyoto.

"We have organized these briefings to provide a better understanding of climate change and the related technical and policy issues that exist at a national and international level. By gathering together a wealth of expertise and understanding, we can get a better grasp on the key issues that Canada is facing, how they affect different regions of the country, and how people can become more involved," said Bell.

Hugh Morris, Chair of the Board of the Canadian Global Change Program of the Royal Society of Canada, said the Kyoto meeting "is proving to be a wake-up call for Canada to get moving on significant policy action on climate change. The world will be waiting to see how prepared Canada is to live up to its international commitments to combat the threats of climate change."

The briefing will begin with a session on the environmental impact of climate change and the economic and social costs of controlling or allowing greenhouse gas emissions. Afternoon sessions include presentations by federal and provincial government representatives outlining their positions on climate change, as well as a discussion of the international and national negotiating process. In the final panel discussion, participants from Pollution Probe, Imperial Oil and Sorema Management Inc (a management consulting firm) will weigh in on the question: "What Should Canada Do in Kyoto and Beyond?"

WHEN:
Monday, November 17, 1997
8:30 am -- Registration and Coffee
9:00 am -- Welcoming Remarks, John Fleming, Deputy Minister, Ontario Ministry of Environment
9:05 am --Introduction, Peter Victor, Dean, York Faculty of Environmental Studies
9:15 am -- "Understanding Climate Change"
Participants:
Jim Bruce, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Canadian Global Change Program Board Member
Linda Mortsch, Environmental Adaptation Research Group at the University of Waterloo, Environment Canada
Jamie Smith, Smith & Lavender Environmental Consulting
Erik Haites, Margaree Consulting
12:00 pm -- Luncheon, with remarks from Brian Emmett, Federal Environmental Commissioner, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
1:00 pm -- "The International and National Negotiation Process"
Doug Russell, Global Change Strategies International Inc.
2:15 pm --"The Position of the Federal Government"
John Mills, Regional Director General, Ontario, Environment Canada
2:45 pm -- "The Position of the Provincial Government"
TBA
3:30 pm -- "What Should Canada Do in Kyoto and Beyond?"
Chair: David Bell, Director, York Ctr. for Applied Sustainability
Ken Ogilvie, Executive Director, Pollution Probe
Angus Ross, President, Sorema Management Inc.
TBA, Imperial Oil Limited

WHERE:
Senate Chamber, Ross Building, 9th floor North, Room 940
York University, 4700 Keele Street
North York

The Royal Society of Canada is an independent, non-profit organization that was incorporated by an act of Parliament in 1883. Its primary objective is to promote learning and research in the arts, letters and sciences in Canada. Its Canadian Global Change Program was founded in 1985 to combine the natural and human dimensions of global change, and to bring together scientists and other specialists to plan interdisciplinary research and assess the impact of this research on policy.

The York University Centre for Applied Sustainability, Faculty of Environmental Studies was established in June 1996 to act as a university-wide focus for research into sustainability. The Centre focuses the efforts of business, academia, government and other stakeholders on applying knowledge about environmental sustainability to our political, economic, health and social systems.

For more information or for further background materials, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
email: sinem@yorku.ca

Alison Masemann
Media Relations Officer
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
email: masemann@yorku.ca
YU/096/97