TORONTO, March 1, 2001 – Charles Caccia, Liberal MP for Davenport, and chair of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, will deliver a series of five lectures as part of the Sustainable Development Lecture Series at York University, March through April 2001.
Sponsored by York University’s Faculty of Environmental Studies and the York Centre for Applied Sustainability, Caccia will begin the series on Friday, March 2 with a review of the origins and principles behind sustainable development, Canada’s and other countries’ progress in achieving sustainable development goals, the hurdles in achieving those goals, and the political and institutional changes that are necessary to get there. Subsequent lectures will examine sustainable development as it pertains to natural resource depletion (including in fisheries, forests, and energy), international agreements and negotiations such as the Kyoto Protocol, and specific case studies such as MMT in gasoline, acid rain, the environmental implications of NAFTA, biotechnology, and pesticides.
"The lectures are intended to take students from the theoretical concept of sustainable development and its historical evolution, to the political struggle of its implementation," said Caccia. "Through case studies in Canadian policies and legislation, students will hear a critical analysis of the Government’s approach – describing progress made and challenges ahead. At the end of the day, students will hopefully be better equipped to see the larger picture and be able to scrutinize their government’s policies, become active citizens and assist their elected representatives in responding to this challenge."
Faculty of Environmental Studies Dean Peter Victor said, "This series of lectures by Charles Caccia provides a rare opportunity to learn from one of Canada's leading proponents of sustainable development. His lectures will be based on many years of personal involvement in the politics and practice of sustainable development in Canada and abroad."
Caccia was first elected to Parliament in 1968. He served as Minister of Labour in 1981 and Minister of the Environment in 1983. After the 1984 election, he served as environment critic in the Official Opposition until February 1989, when he established the Parliamentary Centre for Environmentally Sustainable Development. He served as chair of the Committee on Sustainable Development of the National Liberal Caucus. The United Nations Environment Program awarded him the Global 500 award in 1997. He is currently commissioner for the World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development.
A schedule of the lectures follows:
Friday, March 2
Sustainable Development: "The Theory and the Practice, the Old and the New Economy."
A review of the history and theory behind the development of the concept of sustainable development – how to get from the old economy to the new economy.
Friday, March 9
The Sustainability of Natural Resources: Fisheries, Forests, Energy. How is the Record?
A discussion of the social dimension of sustainable development: population, arable land, development assistance, and current trends.
Friday, March 30
Sustainable Development: Some International Agreements and Negotiations. Are We Making Progress?
A discussion of the Kyoto Protocol, Ozone and the Montreal Protocol, the Precautionary Principle, the Biosafety Protocol.
Friday, April 6
Sustainable Development: The Political Reality as Seen Through Some Case Studies (Part I):
Lead in Gasoline, Acid Rain, The Commissioner for Environment and Sustainable Development, MMT and NAFTA, Chapter 11.
Wednesday, April 11
Sustainable Development: The Political Reality as Seen Through Some Case Studies (Part II):
Biotechnology, The Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999, Pesticides, The Species at Risk Act
Established in 1996, the mandate of the York Centre for Applied Sustainability is to promote the application of sustainability principles and practices throughout society, including in the public sector, the private sector, the civil sector, and in education.
All lectures will be held 12:30 to 2 p.m., Room 306, Lumbers Building, York University Campus, 4700 Keele Street.
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For more information, please contact:
Dianne Zecchino
Faculty of Environmental Studies
York University
(416) 736-5285
diannezyorku.ca
Ken Turriff
Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca
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