YELLOWKNIFE (October 11, 2012) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has exceeded its greenhouse gas emissions target. The 2007 NWT Greenhouse Gas Strategy set a target to reduce emissions from GNWT operations to 10 percent below 2001 levels by the year 2011. Actual reductions were 30 percent lower, from 54 kilotonnes (Kt) in 2001 to 37 Kt from GNWT operations in 2011. “We are committed to responsible stewardship of our environment, to help it sustain present and future generations,” said Environment and Natural Resources minister J. Michael Miltenberger.  “This achievement gives our government confidence that we know what actions to take to meet, and potentially exceed, our next target to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions from all of the NWT." The NWT Greenhouse Gas Strategy 2011-2015 territorial targets for the entire NWT are:

• Stabilize emissions at 2005 levels (1,500 Kt) by 2015:


• Limit emissions increases to 66 percent about 2005 levels (2,500 Kt) by 2020; and,


• Return emissions to 2005 levels (1,500 Kt) by 2030.

 

A recent greenhouse gas inventory released by Environment Canada reports NWT emissions in 2010 at 1,325 Kt. The GNWT 2011 Corporate Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which reports on greenhouse gas emissions from GNWT operations for the 2011 calendar year, has been submitted to The Climate Registry.  The Registry is a non-profit collaboration among North American states, provinces and territories.  It sets transparent standards to calculate, verify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions in a single registry. For more information, visit nwtclimatechange.ca or contact: Judy McLinton Public Affairs and Communications Environment and Natural Resources Government of the Northwest Territories Tel:  867-873-7379 Email:  judy_mclinton@gov.nt.ca