CANADA TO HOST ANNUAL CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE, 28 NOVEMBER – 9 DECEMBER 2005

(Reissued as received.)

KYOTO, 16 February (UNFCCC) - Canada will host the first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Montreal in conjunction with the eleventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention.  The Convention's Bureau accepted the offer of the Government of Canada today at a meeting in Kyoto, Japan.  The Conference will take place from 28 November to 9 December 2005 at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal.

The Bureau warmly welcomed the generous offer of Canada to host this historic meeting, which underlines Canada's commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process.  Montreal, with its long-standing international reputation, will make an excellent venue.

Following the Bureau's decision, the Canadian Minister of the Environment, Stéphane Dion, declared:  “As humanity embarks on the long journey towards controlling our influence on the climate, Canada is honoured to host the world in Montreal in late fall.  We hope that the meeting in Montreal will help identify how all the international family can contribute to the effort while developing a thriving economy for everyone, on all continents -- an economy that will be clean and climate-friendly.”

Note to journalists:  For further information, please contact Carrie Assheuer, Public Information and Media Assistant, tel. +49 (228) 815 1005.  See also http://unfccc.int.

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