Conference on environment draws crowd

Publication Source: News @ Concordia
Source Link: View the full original article >>
Author: Staff

It was standing room only when close to 250 people filled the auditorium in the Richard J. Renaud Science Complex to hear keynote presenters, MP and Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Damon Matthews, associate professor in the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, kick off the Sustainability: Rio +20 conference.

The conference, held on March 30 and 31, was co-organized by Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability (formerly Loyola International College) and Siena College. Since 2005, both colleges have been hosting joint conferences to explore issues related globalization.

In an emotional speech, May expressed concern that while Canada was once at the forefront of global efforts to reducing emissions and setting international goals for a greener planet, the country is now falling far behind other industrialized nations. Canada’s decision to opt out of the Kyoto Protocol was only one example she cited in a litany of regressive steps. She also made it clear that addressing environmental issues was lacking in the recent federal budget, presented in the House of Commons.

View the full original article >>