THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTS THE CANADIAN GLOBAL CHANGE PROGRAM'S (CGCP'S) RECENT ACTIVITIES AND INITIATIVES.

Research assessment and policy options

The CGCP coordinates state-of-the-art assessments of research results in areas of potentially high impact to Canadians, identifying information gaps and opportunities for Canadian contributions. These assessments take the form of expert panels, research/policy forums and commissioned studies. Workshops and conferences help communicate the results of the assessments and promote a wider dialogue about policy options on significant issues affecting Canadian society. The three following projects are currently being conducted in this area, or have been recently been concluded:

• As part of its climate change initiative, the CGCP held a workshop on the use of economic instruments to reduce greenhouse gases from January 16-17, 1997, in partnership with a number of other organizations. Participants and speakers attended from government, academic, non-governmental and business communities in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

• The CGCP, in partnership with the Canadian Climate Program (CCP), produced Canada and Climate Change: Responding to Challenges and Opportunities -- A submission to Canada's Provincial and Federal Ministers of Energy and Environment for the December 1996 meeting of the ministers. The submission updated the state of climate science, highlighted key elements of the international arena, and discussed some of the strategic options that ministers may wish to consider for the future evolution of climate change policy in Canada. After several reviews by the CGCP and CCP boards of directors, it was sent to the ministers, then to various media and other interested parties just prior to the December meeting. The submission is available from the CGCP Secretariat.

• The CGCP's interdisciplinary research assessment panel on global change and Canada's marine fisheries is in the final stages of preparing its report, which will go through a formal peer review process in late spring. The final report is expected to be released in Fall 1997.

• A Trilateral Workshop on Atmospheric Change and North American Transportation was held in Washington, DC from March 24-26, 1997. This initiative of the CCP and CGCP was coordinated and hosted by the US National Academy of Sciences, and involved participants and speakers from Canada, the US and Mexico.

Other activities

• Canada and the State of the Planet, a book by Michael Keating and the CGCP, will summarize information and data about trends in the global environment from a Canadian perspective, within a single, short, readable publication. The book is currently in press at Oxford University Press (in English) and Les Iditions MultiMondes (in French). It will be available in bookstores across Canada by the beginning of June, 1997. The date of the official launch will be announced shortly. If you would like to order the book or need information about bulk prices, please contact the CGCP Secretariat.

• The CGCP held a symposium in Vancouver on the evening of January 20, 1997, prior to the CGCP Board meeting, titled Can Responding to Climate Change Mean Business for Canada? The event provided area business people and other decision makers with an opportunity to learn about and discuss emerging service and technology opportunities that are being created as Canada responds to climate change.

  Speakers included Aldyen Donnelly of the Greenhouse Emissions Management Consortium (GEMCo), Cathy McGregor, the new BC Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks, and CGCP Board members John Robinson of University of British Columbia's Sustainable Development Research Institute and Joe Thwaites of Taylor Munro Energy Systems.

• The CGCP will be holding another pre-Board meeting symposium as part of the 1997 annual meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association to be held in Toronto, Ontario from June 8-13, 1997. The symposium, to be held on the evening of June 10, will focus on international environmental agreements and business. Speakers will include Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme and Janine Ferretti, Director of the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation.

• At the request of Environment Canada the CGCP will play a key role, along with other partners, in developing a colloquium on the role of science in the development of policy related to stratospheric ozone. The colloquium is to be held in Montreal on September 12 or 13, 1997, as part of a series of events marking the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol.

• The Canada Country Study aims to combine scientific and socio-economic research to gain a better understanding of the complexities of the climate change issue, and the extent of possible impacts on our society. The proposed strategy of the study is to compile regional and sectoral assessments and then to integrate these to produce a report on the national picture.

Preparation of the Country Study is expected to be completed by Fall 1997. To facilitate the sharing of research material among different regions and sectors, as well as among stakeholders, a central database and a secretariat has been established in Downsview, Ontario.

The CGCP Secretariat participated in a March 1996 workshop and has further contributed through its participation in the Canadian Climate Program Board's Socio-Economics Impacts Sub-committee. As well, the CGCP was recently asked to join the Steering Committee for the Canada Country Study, and the Chair of the CGCP's Board of Directors, Hugh Morris, spoke on behalf of the Program at a British Columbia and Yukon Climate Change Program forum for the Canada Country Study held in Vancouver on February 28, 1997.

Research planning and collaboration

The CGCP promotes integrated global change research, builds partnerships among researchers, and helps to determine research priorities by implementing a variety of activities. In this capacity, the program continues to serve as Canada's national committee for the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), the International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP) and the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE). As well, the CGCP is holding a symposium called Research of Relevance: A Symposium of Canadian Global Change Researchers, in Downsview, Ontario from March 17-18, 1997.

CGCP Web Site Undergoes Renovation

The CGCP is continuing to strengthen its presence on the Internet. Its Web site provides access to recent CGCP publications including DELTA and Changes, as well as links to other organizations with information on global change, and an environmental education section. Users are also able to view, order or download most CGCP publications in both official languages.

This site is currently in the final stages of being re-designed. In addition to being streamlined and updated, the Aaddress@ of the site will also be changed to <www.cgcp.rsc.ca>, to facilitate its access to users (if you use the current address, you will automatically be forwarded to this new address). The new address and the refurbished site will be accessible as of April 1, 1997. There is a feedback option available at the site, and all comments and suggestions are very welcome.