May 8, 2002

Conference Highlights Sustainability of Great Lakes

Toronto, ON - Key decision makers from around the world will gather in Ontario next month to share knowledge on how to protect and restore the world’s coastal zones and shared waters, with a special focus on the Great Lakes.

Managing Shared Waters, a milestone initiative organized by Pollution Probe, in partnership with the United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health, and the Coastal Zone Canada Association, will take place from June 23-28 in Hamilton, Ontario at the Hamilton Convention Centre.

This conference will profile the past successes and future challenges of the Great Lakes freshwater coastal zone in an international context.  Notably, it is three decades since the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was signed. While much progress has been made in improving the Great Lakes, Canada’s Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development recently noted, we are losing momentum in protecting this important watershed.

“Given Canada’s track record, the conference is an opportunity for us to re-commit to global leadership in cleaning up our shared waters,” said Ken Ogilvie, Executive Director of Pollution Probe. “Canada has developed many innovative environmental technologies, and we have the capacity to use this technology at home as well as export it abroad.”

The event brings together policy makers, scientists, business, non-governmental organizations and indigenous peoples from around the world to share experiences and solutions in managing shared waters. Participants include:

¨       Honourable David Anderson, Canada’s Minister of the Environment and President, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council

¨       Honourable Allan Rock, Canada’s Minister of Industry (invited)

¨       Elizabeth Dowdeswell, former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, and Chair Counterpart Canada

¨       Margaret Catley-Carlson, Chair, Global Water Partnership

¨       Dr. Andrew Benedek, Chairman and CEO, ZENON Environmental Inc.

Global water problems are becoming a major international issue.  The sustainable development of coastal areas are also rising in importance as more than half of the world’s population lives within 150 kilometers of coasts. This population is growing along with its industrial, residential and recreational demands.

The conference is timely as organizing partners will submit a conference statement to the U.N. World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, August-September 2002, as well as the World Water Forum to be held in Kyoto, Japan in 2003.  

About Pollution Probe

Pollution Probe is the lead partner for Managing Shared Waters and is the main media contact.

Pollution Probe has worked to protect Canada’s environment for more than 30 years. Founded by University of Toronto students in 1969, Pollution Probe has grown into a national organization with more than 7,000 individual donors.

Pollution Probe defines environmental problems through research, promotes understanding through education and presses for practical solutions through advocacy.  It currently works on air and water quality, energy, mercury reduction, and environment and children’s health issues.

Other Partners:

Coastal Zone Canada organization (CZCA) is a national association of policy makers, academics and other stakeholders focusing on the sustainable development and protection of the coastal zone.  Its more than 600 members are drawn from across Canada and around the world.  It has been holding biennial conferences on coastal zone issue since 1994.  Managing Shared Waters, also known as Coastal Zone Canada 2002, is the fifth conference in the series. 

The United National University International Network on Water, Environment and Health (UNU/INWEH) is a research and capacity-development programme contributing to the resolution of global water problems, particularly in the developing world.  It undertakes collaborative, demand-driven projects on river basins, urban water systems and marine coastal waters in support of integrated water resources management.  INWEH was established in 1996, with financial support from the Government of Canada, and is headquartered at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Canada.

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For more information please contact:

Mary Pattenden
Pollution Probe
(416) 926-1907 x243