Canada Leads Clean Technology Business Delegation to Mainland China

Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna led a business delegation to mainland China on 5-8 December aimed at identifying potential opportunities for Canadian clean technology companies in the growing mainland Chinese market. According to Canadian authorities, mainland China is the fastest growing market for clean technology industries with a potential for business of over US$63 billion.

During her visit Minister McKenna encouraged partnerships between Canadian and mainland Chinese companies to identify solutions that will help both economies address the effects of climate change, accelerate a shift to a clean growth economy, and create new opportunities and good jobs for Canadians. Ms. McKenna also discussed key policy issues with her mainland Chinese counterparts, including environmental protection, climate change, and clean energy and clean growth, and sought to strengthen bi-lateral co-operation on the establishment, conservation and management of protected parks and areas.

Moreover, Minister McKenna served as the international executive vice-chair of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) and co-chaired the council’s annual general meeting with mainland China’s Minister of Environmental Protection Chen Jining. The CCICED is a high­level international advisory body that provides mainland China’s State Council with research­based policy recommendations on environmental and development issues. Canada helped to establish the CCICED in 1992 and has been the lead international partner of the council since that time.