25 January 2016: Over 150 people attended an event, titled ‘Canada in the Post-2015 World,’ which was organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and hosted by the International Development Research Centre in Ottawa, Canada. The event provided an early look at the landmark agreements achieved in 2015 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and an opportunity to consider how Canada can contribute to sustainable development in the wake of these agreements.

The UN Sustainable Development Summit, which adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs, took place from 25-27 September 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York, US. The Paris Agreement was adopted at the conclusion of the Paris Climate Change Conference, which convened from 29 November to 13 December 2015, in Paris, France.

The IISD event, which took place on 25 January 2016, brought together participants representing the Canadian Government, academia and civil society. The first panel discussed how Canada can advance implementation of the SDGs nationally, given the universal applicability of the Goals. Participants also discussed how Canada can support developing countries in their implementation and reporting of the SDGs. In the afternoon, a panel of speakers outlined the key features of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change adopted in December 2015.

The panel and the audience then discussed opportunities for Canada to increase its mitigation efforts, particularly through energy efficiency, as well as adaptation efforts at home and abroad. Participants throughout the day explored how 2015 changed the landscape of global sustainable development policy and action and anticipated opportunities and challenges for Canada and other countries in advancing this complex agenda. [Event Webpage] [IISD RS Sources] [IISD Website] [IISD RS Coverage of the UN Sustainable Development Summit] [IISD RS Coverage of the Paris Climate Change Conference]