Declaration of the National Forum on Climate Change
The National Forum on Climate Change, was convened by the NRTEE in 1998 to raise public awareness of the climate change issue and to bring a citizens’ viewpoint to the debate. Forum members, comprising 25 Order of Canada recipients, came together to form a citizens’ panel that was tasked with developing an objective and unbiased assessment of the climate change challenge facing Canadians.Over the course of three sessions, Forum members heard a range of viewpoints about the current and potential impact of climate change on Canada’s economy and society. Speakers from industry, policy organizations, government, and non-governmental organizations presented diverse perspectives on the gravity of the climate change issue, and on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Canadians.During the Forum’s third session, held in April 1998, Forum members began the work of drafting a consensus statement on climate change. The resulting Declaration sets out members’ understanding of climate change, and its potential impact on the environment and economy, and on the health of Canadians.