To mark the occasion of the “Rio +20” United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and this renewed chance for national leaders to address critical global environmental problems, the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) calls upon the Government of Canada to: 

Take decisive action to address climate change including:

• pricing of carbon emissions as recommended by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;
• a mandatory and progressive cap-and-trade program for large industrial emitters of greenhouse gas emissions; 
• strong incentive programs for investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources; 
• an aggressive reduction in fossil fuel reliance by fostering the development and use of renewable energy supplies and pursuing policies to reduce automobile dependence. 

Invest in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in order to reduce the negative impacts on human and ecological health that are occurring as a result of human-induced changes in global climate, with an emphasis on particularly vulnerable regions, including the far North. 

 Reaffirm the principles contained in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Sustainable Development, including the precautionary principle. 

Recommit to meaningful global action to address chemicals of concern, acknowledging that chemical contamination with toxic, persistent and bioaccumulative substances affects everyone, with the greatest exposure and risk of harm being experienced by the most vulnerable; particularly children and the developing fetus.

Contact: Erica Phipps, CPCHE Partnership Director, erica@healthyenvironmentforkids.ca