The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released its 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework 2019-2023 Action Plan — the first of two five-year Action Plans to guide the implementation of the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework.

The Action Plan provides the roadmap for the Northwest Territories to address climate change over the next five years, and is linked to the GNWT’s 2030 Energy Strategy, 2018-2021 Energy Action Plan and the NWT Petroleum Resources Strategy. Together, these documents represent our government’s coordinated approach to energy and climate change and will enable the NWT to transition to a strong, healthy economy that is less dependent on fossil fuels.

Quote

“All partners, including the GNWT, community, Indigenous and federal governments, and stakeholders, need to make significant commitments to achieve our long-term vision of increasing adaptation and resiliency, moving towards a lower-carbon economy, and improving our knowledge of climate change impacts. As the lead department responsible for climate change, ENR will provide strong leadership on related coordination within the NWT and with other provinces, territories and the federal government.”

• Hon. Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

Quick facts

• The 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework, released May 1, 2018, provides the GNWT’s long-term, comprehensive and coordinated response to climate change, outlined in three goals: 
  1. Transitioning to a strong, healthy economy that uses less fossil fuel, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030
  2. Increasing understanding of climate change impacts occurring in the NWT
  3. Building resilience and adapting to a changing climate
• The Action Plan is broken down into three sections:
  1. Actions: Work currently underway or resourced to take place within 2019-2023
  2. Areas for future collaboration: High priority areas that need funding or capacity to proceed
  3. Reporting and measuring progress: A tracking process for implementation
• To ensure progress is being made, the GNWT will be reviewing the Action Plan annually and updating the plan with new actions as funding is secured for areas for future collaboration. The GNWT will report annually on progress on the Action Plan.
• After five years, a review of the Action Plan will be undertaken to guide the development and implementation of an updated Action Plan for 2025-2029 to ensure we continue to meet the coming challenges and opportunities related to climate change.

Links

• 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework 2019-2023 Action Plan
• 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework
• NWT Petroleum Strategy
• 2030 Energy Strategy
• 2019-2021 Energy Action Plan

Media contact

Meagan Wohlberg

Manager, Public Affairs and Communication

Environment and Natural Resources

meagan_wohlberg@gov.nt.ca