Environment and Natural Resources

Greenhouse Gas Strategy Renewal

November 4, 2010 - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is leading an initiative to prepare a revised Greenhouse Gas Strategy for 2011 to 2015.


Mr. Speaker, a significant priority of the 16th Assembly is an environment that will sustain present and future generations. Climate change remains a serious issue for the people of the Northwest Territories.

Survey Results for Bluenose-East Caribou Herd Released

November 3, 2010 - Results from the 2010 summer surveys of the Bluenose-East caribou herd indicate the herd has recovered to 2000 levels.

“The new estimate of the size of the herd is 98,600 animals,” said Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Minister J. Michael Miltenberger. “While the increase in the herd is good news, this herd is shared by many harvesters from many regions and we must still exercise caution when recommending management actions so the herd can continue to increase.”

Barren-ground Caribou Management

November 3, 2010 - Today, during Session, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources emphasized that barren-ground caribou management has been a major priority for this Government for the past five years.


Mr. Speaker, barren-ground caribou management has been a major priority for this Government for the past five years. In a time when caribou herds around the circumpolar world are declining, we have spent considerable time, effort and resources to conserve our herds.

Beverage Container Program Celebrates Five Successful Years

November 2, 2010 - More than 125 million beverage containers have been returned since the NWT Beverage Container Program first began on November 1, 2005.

“Since its’ inception, the Beverage Container Program has had enormous public support,” said Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), J. Michael Miltenberger. “We have an 84 percent recovery rate overall and we have NWT residents to thank for this success.”

Devolution of Lands and Resources: Environment and Legislation

November 1, 2010 - The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources explained that gaining northern control over the resource management decision-making process is one of the main reasons the Government of the Northwest Territories is pursuing Devolution.


Mr. Speaker, gaining northern control over the resource management decision-making process is one of the main reasons the Government of the Northwest Territories is pursuing Devolution.

Energy Priorities

October 29, 2010 -  The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources informed Members of the Legislative Assembly on the important progress that the GNWT is making towards expanding the use of alternative energy sources.


Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories supports global and local actions to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Waste Reduction Week

October 21, 2010 - In honour of Waste Reduction Week, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, J. Michael Miltenberger provided residents with information about the environmental ramifications of wasteful practices and encouraged all residents to reduce, reuse and recycle.


Mr. Speaker, October 18-24 is Waste Reduction Week in Canada. This week is an opportunity to provide residents with information about the environmental ramifications of wasteful practices and to encourage all of us to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Canadian Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends 2010 Report Released

YELLOWKNIFE (October 19, 2010) - Canadian Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends 2010, a federal-provincial-territorial report presenting the status of and trends in Canada’s ecosystems from a biodiversity perspective, was released in Ottawa today. This report is the first of its kind in Canada.

The Government of the Northwest Territories collaborated with the federal government and other provincial and territorial governments, by providing valuable data and information about the status and trends of the Northwest Territories’ ecozones.

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