GNWT reports on first year of progress towards territory-wide climate change goals

January 11, 2021

News Release

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released its first progress reports on our territory-wide approach to climate change.

Strengthening the government’s leadership and authority on climate change, ensuring climate change impacts are specifically considered when making government decisions as well as reducing the cost of power and increasing the use of alternative and renewable energy, are priorities of the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories, 2019-2023.

The 2030 Northwest Territories (NWT) Climate Change Strategic Framework (CCSF) and CCSF 2019-2023 Action Plan set out the territory’s long-term plan for addressing climate change.

Results of the first year of the CCSF 2019-2023 Action Plan are being reported alongside results of the NWT Carbon Tax and the 2030 NWT Energy Strategy and Energy Action Plan. The reporting demonstrates our progress towards achieving the NWT’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, improving knowledge of climate change impacts occurring in the NWT, building resilience and adapting to climate change as well as supporting secure, affordable and sustainable energy in the NWT.

The GNWT’s integrated reporting includes the release of four documents:

· NWT Climate Change Action Plan Annual Report 2019/2020

· 2019/20 NWT Energy Initiatives Report

· NWT Carbon Tax Report 2019/2020

· Responding to Climate Change in the NWT: Plain Language Overview Report

The Plain Language Overview Report summarizes the GNWT’s activities to address climate change.

The reporting demonstrates that almost all action items under the CCSF 2019-2023 Action Plan are underway and the GNWT is well-positioned to transition to a lower carbon economy, improve knowledge of climate change impacts, and build resilience and adapt to a changing climate.

Quotes

“Climate change is a significant challenge facing NWT residents and requires meaningful action and leadership. Reporting on these three initiatives at the same time ensures government accountability and transparency and demonstrates progress the GNWT and its partners are making as they work together to address one of the biggest environmental, economic and political issues of our time.”

- Shane Thompson, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

“We all have a role to play to help the NWT do its part to address climate change. The NWT Energy Initiatives Report 2019/20 provides a high level review of the projects, programs and policies undertaken by the GNWT and its partners to achieve the strategic objectives of the 2030 Energy Strategy, our guide to ensure the NWT has a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system that is less dependent on fossil fuels.”

- Diane Archie, Minister of Infrastructure

“The GNWT has designed a made-in-the-North approach to carbon pricing that minimizes the financial impact on NWT residents and businesses while still ensuring our territory is doing its part to fulfill our national commitments and address climate change.

- Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance

Quick facts

· This is the first report of the GNWT’s progress on the implementation of the CCSF 2019-2023 Action Plan. The GNWT will continue to report annually on implementation over the life of the plan and progress towards reaching the goals set in the CCSF: achieving the NWT’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, improving knowledge of climate change impacts occurring in the NWT, building resilience and adapting to climate change.

· The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is the lead on climate change and is responsible for implementing the CCSF and CCSF 2019-2023 Action Plan. It coordinates with other departments on the GNWT’s response to climate change. The Department of Infrastructure is responsible for implementing the 2030 Energy Strategy and Energy Action Plan. The Department of Finance is responsible for implementing the NWT Carbon Tax.

· The 2030 Energy Strategy and Energy Action Plan commit the GNWT to releasing an annual Energy Initiatives Report to show the GNWT’s progress towards reaching the goals set in the strategy: that the NWT will have a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system that is less dependent on fossil fuels.

· The GNWT has committed to improving coordination and communication on climate change, and is integrating climate change reporting to ensure information on how the GNWT and its partners are addressing this issue is easily accessible to the public.

· Releasing the reports together increases public accountability and helps keep NWT residents informed on how the GNWT and its partners are addressing climate change.