Press Releases

January 28, 2008

25 environmental organizations urge Premier Campbell to strike adaptation committee

Vancouver - CPAWS-BC, along with 24 other environmental organizations, sent Premier
Gordon Campbell a letter today, urging him to establish a Premier's Advisory Committee on
Adaptation to Climate Change.

This new committee should focus on adaptation efforts to protect B.C. lands, freshwaters and
ocean through the profound impacts of climate change. A new committee is needed because the
premier's existing Climate Action Secretariat only deals with emissions reduction.

"It's not enough to reduce greenhouse gases," says Chloe O'Loughlin, executive director of the
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, B.C. chapter. "We need adaptation plans to help our
creatures and plants survive as the province warms. Our species will shift habitats, spread up
mountains and move north and south. We have to help them adapt or we will lose them. We must
prevent this looming tragedy."

The new Premier's Advisory Committee on Adaptation to Climate Change should address both
marine and terrestrial habitats in British Columbia.

"Gordon Campbell has taken a good first step towards climate change. Looking at ways to
reduce emissions (mitigation) is important. But it's only half the battle," says O'Loughlin. "The
other half of the battle is protecting our province's biodiversity through these troubled times
(adaptation). Premier Campbell needs to help the species that can't help themselves. He needs to
protect our functioning ecosystems. If he doesn't, we will all pay the price."

Contact:
Chloe O'Loughlin
Executive Director, CPAWS-BC
604-685-7445, ext. 23

Carrie West
Communications Coordinator, CPAWS-BC
604-685-7445, ext. 22
Fax: (604) 629-8532
E-mail: carrie@cpawsbc.org

Our email to the Premier

Download (PDF file)