The NWT Climate Change Council met for the fourth time September 21, 2022 to discuss climate action in the NWT.
Key actions taken by the council at this meeting included:
– Upcoming initiatives to engage NWT communities on climate adaptation priorities and lived experiences of climate change.
– Discussion of and input for the NWT’s upcoming submissions to the Government of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.
– Finalizing Terms of Reference for the Youth Advisory Group – which will bring youth voices from across the territory to the table as the GNWT implements the 2030 Climate Change Strategic Framework.
– Reminding all members of capacity funding available from the GNWT for Council participants to ensure meaningful participation is possible.
Also discussed were:
– Successful leveraging of federal funding completed by the NWT Association of Communities (NWTAC) to get FireSmart projects done and build community resiliency to the changing climate – and how that model can be applied to other significant challenges.
– Funding received by NWT Metis Nation to undertake climate monitoring
– The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation’s (IRC) Climate Watch Program – which collects key data
– The Gwich’in Tribal Council’s intent to implement a Program coordinator including climate change initiatives
– The Dehcho First Nation’s upcoming youth climate action gathering (since completed) bringing 40 youth together to discuss climate adaptation.
Sara Brown, the Chair of the NWT Climate Change Council, and the Executive Directorof the NWT Association of Communities, said in a statement;
“The Council is thrilled to see community-led initiatives popping up across the territory to advance climate action in our territory. The biggest takeaway: partnerships work. Partnerships like those resulting in historic investments in FireSmart projects. This Council is a forum for us to foster these partnerships, learn from each other, and take those learning home. That’s what we’re doing. ”
