Close X
Friday, September 20, 2024
ADVT 
National

Pledge to plant 2 billion trees lofty but attainable, Natural Resources minister says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 02 Aug, 2023 03:38 PM
  • Pledge to plant 2 billion trees lofty but attainable, Natural Resources minister says

Canada's plan to plant two billion trees by 2030 is ahead of schedule, but mitigating the effects of climate change is as important as adapting to them, says Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson. 

The minister was in Surrey, B.C., Wednesday to tout the federal government's pledge to plant two billion trees, saying the plan is on track and even exceeding its targets. 

"We are focusing a good chunk of this program increasingly on the reforestation of areas burned by forests, but as I say, the challenge of climate change, we've talked a lot about the need for us to reduce carbon emissions to actually ensure that we're not making the problem worse," Wilkinson said. "The reality is that we are going to actually have to focus far more on adaptation."

Wilkinson said in the first two years of the Trudeau government's tree-planting pledge, 110 million trees have been planted, exceeding early targets of 90 million trees during that period.  

The minister said in an age of record wildfires and devastating floods, tree planting is an important step in mitigating climate change-related disasters.

The commissioner of the environment said in a report earlier this year that the government is unlikely to reach the two-billion target or get the expected emission reduction targets that go with it.

“There is no solution to climate change and terrestrial biodiversity loss that does not include forests,” Environment Commissioner Jerry DeMarco’s report said. “It is unlikely that the two billion trees program will meet its objectives unless significant changes are made.”

Wilkinson said the audit didn't cover a six-month period when a number of agreements with provinces were signed, and his government is working to include a "robust" planting monitoring program.

The minister said the first few years of the planting pledge included time to find suitable seedlings that take years to grow to planting size, and that volumes to meet the two-billion tree pledge will ramp up in the years ahead.

"The unfortunate reality is that the effects of climate change are with us, and extreme weather events are things that we should be expecting to happen more frequently going forward," he said. "If we don't address the climate issue in a substantive way, we are going to leave a future for our kids that is unmanageable."

With the 2021 floods in B.C., current fires across the country and Hurricane Fiona's devastating blow to Nova Scotia, Wilkinson said the focus on adapting to climate change is as important as attempts to mitigating its effects.

"Planting two billion trees is a marathon, it is not a sprint," Wilkinson said. "Thoughtful planning is required to ensure that the right trees are planted in the right place at the right time."

MORE National ARTICLES

Fundraiser honours firefighter who died in B.C.

Fundraiser honours firefighter who died in B.C.
A fundraiser has been launched to honour the memory of a firefighter killed while fighting British Columbia's largest wildfire last week. The 25-year-old firefighter who died Friday has been identified as Zak Muise in an online obituary and tribute by the firefighting contractor he worked for.

Fundraiser honours firefighter who died in B.C.

Feds say 6.6 million 'unsafe vehicles' on the road

Feds say 6.6 million 'unsafe vehicles' on the road
Transport Canada estimated in an analysis from June that one in five of the 33.3 million vehicles registered as of 2019 have outstanding recalls but continue to ply the streets and highways, potentially endangering occupants and other road users.

Feds say 6.6 million 'unsafe vehicles' on the road

Properties destroyed as latest B.C. wildfire flares, forcing urgent evacuations

Properties destroyed as latest B.C. wildfire flares, forcing urgent evacuations
An evacuation order covering the more than 200 properties around the lake was issued Tuesday and quickly upgraded to critical, urging the many seasonal and handful of permanent residents to leave for Lillooet or Whistler.

Properties destroyed as latest B.C. wildfire flares, forcing urgent evacuations

Vancouver home prices rose slightly from June to July

Vancouver home prices rose slightly from June to July
Home prices in the Greater Vancouver Area rose slightly between June and July to just over 1.2-million-dollars. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says that was due to strong sales figures and few listed homes.

Vancouver home prices rose slightly from June to July

Trudeaus announce separation after 18 years of marriage

Trudeaus announce separation after 18 years of marriage
The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement the couple have signed a separation agreement "to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward."

Trudeaus announce separation after 18 years of marriage

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights
The Military Grievances External Review Committee reviews grievances that are referred to it by the chief of defence staff, and provides the chief with non-binding findings and recommendations. The vaccine policy required Canadian Armed Forces members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face release.

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights

PrevNext