OTTAWA—Canada’s environment minister says the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the next phase of the country’s climate plan, but that the crisis has not affected how the Liberal government intends to fight global warming over the coming years. With that in mind, the government is proceeding with its intention to lay out an “enhanced climate plan” in the coming months — “well before” the next global summit on the climate crisis next fall, he said. The need to rebuild after the pandemic, he said, presents an “unprecedented opportunity” to transform the economy to make it fairer, greener and more prosperous. So while the pandemic has occupied the government for months, Wilkinson said Ottawa is still mindful that climate change could be “even more devastating” in the world fails to adequately address it. “Climate remains a huge priority, and we do intend to move forward and to move forward in a very thoughtful but aggressive way,” he said.

Source: thestar September 18, 2020 21:42 UTC