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By 2020, Vancouver expects to be the greenest city in the world. But how does a visionary city continue to define the future of environmental sustainability? Vancouver and Canada should embed their local efforts into the new global negotiations for a global pact for the environment, expected by 2022 or so. This pact, featured at the Paris Peace Forum by world leaders earlier this month, will provide an international legal basis for environmental protection and environmental rights.

Today, in spite of recent successes of summits focused on climate change, there is no global legal platform to ensure environmental rights.

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At the inaugural Paris Peace Forum, held Nov. 11 to 13 to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the environment was one of the key themes. Prominent leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, attended the opening to stand for peace.

One of the most impactful panels was, The Right Time for a Global Pact for the Environment. Throughout the forum, it became clear that peace requires environmental consideration. Climate change or environmental degradation affect global security through migration, water resource scarcity and conflict. It is essential that it becomes translated into political action at every level.