Canada Reaffirms Commitment to Clean Energy Technologies at International Meeting

PARIS - At the International Energy Agency (IEA) Ministerial meeting, the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, committed to continued partnerships to achieve a clean, secure, global energy supply.

“It is a mark of our Government’s leadership that the priorities identified at the IEA meeting are the priorities we are already pursuing,” said Minister Lunn.

For example, building on the ongoing work of Canada’s Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force, Canada will host an IEA workshop in the fall to share best practices and technological advances with the international community.

Minister Lunn noted that Canada’s status as an emerging energy superpower brings with it considerable responsibility.

“As a result of our tremendous amount of conventional energy resources, we have expertise to share with the international community when it comes to energy and the environment,” said Minister Lunn.

During the Ministerial IEA session, Minister Lunn promoted Canada’s ecoACTION initiatives, including the new Regulatory Framework for Air Emissions. He emphasized the need to boost clean energy, energy efficiency, and clean energy technologies, while recognizing that mandatory regulations and a technology fund will provide industrial sectors with the tools required to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) was founded in 1974 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to coordinate emergency measures in times of oil supply crises. Its mandate has evolved over time to incorporate three aspects of energy policy-making: energy security, economic development and environmental protection. The IEA comprises 26 countries and has become the premiere international forum for addressing energy issues.