Environment & Resource Management A Global Issue Environment & Resource Management

A Global Issue Here, There, & Everywhere What Does Canada Get?

Here, There, & Everywhere The environment knows no boundaries. Pollution from the United States greatly affects the air quality in southern Ontario and Quebec. Excessive water usage in the United States dries up the Colorado River before it reaches the Mexico border. Radioactive material released in a nuclear accident can travel across four continents within a week…

Pollution from the United States

The Disappearing Colorado The Colorado River drains a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. It includes almost a dozen hydroelectric dams and half as many irrigation aqueducts.

The Disappearing Colorado Removal of Water from the Colorado Colorado River Aqueduct San Diego Aqueduct Central Arizona Project Aqueduct All-American Canal Coachella Canal Other Uses Hydroelectric Projects (including the Hoover Dam) Recreation (river & reservoirs)

The Disappearing Colorado Central Arizona Project Aqueduct Colorado River Aqueduct

Chernobyl Nuclear Accident On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine experienced a catastrophic failure and resulted in the worst nuclear power disaster in history.

Chernobyl Nuclear Accident The radioactive cloud immediately spread across a massive area of the Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Within a week, radioactive material was detected in large areas of Europe and Asia, as well as smaller amounts in northern Canada and Algeria in northern Africa.

Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Dark Red = “Closed Zone” Pink = “Permanent Control Zone” Light Pink = “Periodic Control Zone” Yellow = “Unnamed Zone”

Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Most of the radioactive material is still contained in the hastily built sarcophagus. Plans are to build a “new safe confinement” structure over the entire reactor. Actual construction of the NSC began on April 16, 2006 and is projected to be completed by February 29, 2008.

The Next Nuclear Accident? Nuclear Energy Facilities Around the World

What Does Canada Get? What is the effectiveness of Canada with… Organizations Commission for Environmental Cooperation United Nations Environment Program Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Agreements Kyoto Protocol (on the UNFCCC) Boundary Waters Treaty Convention on Biological Diversity

What Does Canada Get? The Commission for Environmental Cooperation was established to address regional environmental concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts, and to promote the effective enforcement of environmental law. This organization includes Canada, the United States, and Mexico. www.cec.org

What Does Canada Get? The United Nations Environment Program is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system. Its mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. www.unep.org

What Does Canada Get? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assesses scientific, technical and socio- economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. It was jointly created by United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization. www.ipcc.ch

What Does Canada Get? The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change considers what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. Recently, a number of nations have approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures. www.unfccc.int

What Does Canada Get? Signed in 1909, the Boundary Waters Treaty provides the principles and mechanisms to help resolve disputes and to prevent future ones, primarily those concerning water quantity and water quality along the boundary between Canada and the United States. The Treaty is administered by the International Joint Commission. www.ijc.org

What Does Canada Get? The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed in 1992 as part of the Rio Earth Summit and has three main goals: conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); sustainable use of its components; and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. www.biodiv.org