The following statement was read in the House of Assembly today by the Honourable Chris Tibbs, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change:

Speaker, I stand to recognize April 22 as Earth Day, a global day of environmental awareness and stewardship.

Each year, Earth Day unites individuals from around the world to inspire action, preserve our environment and address the impacts of climate change for a healthier, more sustainable planet.

The multi-year theme of Earth Day is Our Power, Our Planet, which highlights the steps we can all take to acknowledge and protect our Earth and our vital natural resources.

Speaker, this government is committed to protecting the environment and understands the importance of reducing pollution, safeguarding clean air and water, and conserving the natural environment for all of us. As we look toward a more sustainable future, our government acknowledges that lowering emissions and developing renewable energy is critical to achieving this goal.

Our province’s greenhouse gas emissions remain, on average, the lowest since 1994. We will focus on supporting innovation and green technology to further reduce pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, we understand the value of our planet – and we know that the choices we make today shape its health for tomorrow.

Thank you.