Canada observes Environment Week

Established in 1971, Canadian Environment Week (CEW), this year focuses on a healthy environment and connecting people to nature.

On June 4, Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, launched Canadian Environment Week celebrations highlighting the themes "Healthy Environment" and "Connecting People to Nature."

"As a nation, we are proud of the rich and varied natural landscape that graces Canada from north to south and west to east. Canadians—governments, businesses, Indigenous peoples, and youth—are working together to ensure that our children and grandchildren will have cleaner air and a healthier environment. This is the spirit of Canadian Environment Week," said McKenna.

On Monday, Canada observed the World Environment Day.

This year’s theme for the World Environment Day was “Connecting People to Nature.”

Everywhere citizens are encouraged to discover their natural environment, appreciate the benefits of clean air and water and healthy ecosystems.

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, on this day, issued the following statement on World Environment Day:

“Today, we join the global community to celebrate World Environment Day – an opportunity to connect with nature and to recommit ourselves to build a cleaner, more sustainable world for generations to come. This year, Canada will host the official global celebrations for the first time. We are proud to celebrate our shared environment, and to work with our partners around the world to leave a cleaner, healthier planet for all our children...Canada has taken strong steps to protect the environment and promote clean economic growth. We adopted the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, launched the Oceans Protection Plan, and continue to support developing countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Despite this progress, we have much more work to do. Our Government is committed to work with people around the world and at home, including young people and Indigenous Peoples, to find concrete, effective solutions to environmental issues.

Today, I ask all Canadians and everyone around the world to remember we share one planet. Climate change does not recognize borders, and few challenges have ever been so global in scale. Our children's future depends on our immediate and collective response.”

Tuesday, June 6 was observed as Youth Day.

Throughout the week, the PM invited Canadians to take part in multiple events and raise global awareness about the critical role of healthy ecosystems and protected environments.

McKenna invited families, individuals, schools, and businesses to celebrate by sharing their outdoor fun and environmental activities on social media using #EnviroWeek.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)