The report sets out the guiding principles for creating opportunities to reduce nutrient loadings in the lake basin and building a process for achieving a vision for the future.

In January 2011, the Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit steering committee recommended to IISD that it build on the momentum and goodwill generated at the summit and pursue a work program oriented towards the focus question of the summit—how to create economic opportunities for Manitoba while reducing nutrient loading within the Lake Winnipeg Basin.

"Nothing is more important than the quality of our water," said Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger. "The Province of Manitoba is pleased to support IISD and would like to thank them for taking on the important role of moving a Lake Winnipeg action plan forward."

IISD president and CEO Franz Tattenbach said, "No organization or government can tackle the problem alone and we are proud to have been entrusted by the participants to facilitate the development of a five-year action plan that incorporates innovative approaches and economic benefits for Manitoba."

WIC director Henry David (Hank) Venema said, "At the end of the summit, we felt a great sense of optimism and common purpose in the room but it was when we dug into the details of the discussion and the vision statements that we realized the participants really expect the full sustainable development package—environmental, social and economic integration."

The synthesis report and video proceedings of the Lake Winnipeg Basin Summit held on
November 30 and December 1, 2010 are available at the following links: http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2011/summit_2010_synthesis.pdf
http://www.iisd.org/wic/summit_2010.aspx

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For more information, please contact Nona Pelletier, media and communications officer, IISD
Phone +1 204 958-7740 Cell: +1 204 962-1303 npelletier@iisd.ca.