29 January 2014 (Toronto) – In response to Minister Leona Aglukkaq’s announcement on the launch of the Arctic Economic Council at the Northern Lights Trade Show in Ottawa today, Greenpeace Canada Arctic Campaigner Farrah Khan said:
“We welcome the creation of this council to discuss development opportunities and imagine a prosperous future for the Arctic. Northerners can only hope this forum will focus its efforts on proposing lasting development solutions that do not rely on non-renewable natural resources, and especially not on fossil fuels. Climate change is the biggest threat to Arctic peoples and the environment right now, therefore the Arctic Economic Council must be a sustainable businesses council and not a ‘big oil’ council.
“We are reminded of the Arctic Council’s inaugural mandate as a forum to cover ‘issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.’ Giving the oil industry a louder voice at the decision-making table will add to the Arctic Council’s failure to protect the Arctic environment.”
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