Changements climatiques
Renseignements sur le changement climatique aux Territoires du Nord-Ouest et sur le Cadre stratégique sur le changement climatique
Pourquoi devons-nous agir?
Le changement climatique représente l’un des problèmes les plus importants de notre époque et il touche les Territoires du Nord-Ouest (TNO) à de nombreux égards.
Les TNO se réchauffent à un rythme environ quatre fois plus élevé que la moyenne mondiale, comme le souligne le Rapport sur le climat changeant du Canada (2019), et le réchauffement produit des changements significatifs dans le milieu naturel. Citons notamment le dégel du pergélisol, une plus grande érosion côtière et fluviale, une modification des conditions de glace et une prolongation de la période sans glace, des fluctuations des quantités d’eau et de sa qualité, des risques accrus d’incendies de forêt et l’arrivée de nouvelles espèces de mammifères, d’oiseaux, d’insectes et de poissons qui se déplacent vers le nord.
Ces modifications du milieu naturel touchent également la santé et le bien-être des résidents et leur mode de vie traditionnel ainsi que les infrastructures et l’économie.
Les gouvernements, l’industrie, les organisations non gouvernementales et les Ténois en général cherchent tous des moyens de saisir les occasions et de confronter les enjeux que crée le changement climatique.
- La lutte contre le changement climatique aux TNO (fiche de renseignements)
Que fait le GTNO pour lutter contre le changement climatique?
Le Cadre stratégique sur le changement climatique pour 2030 et le Plan d’action 2019-2023 relatif au Cadre stratégique sur le changement climatique des TNO 2030 présente le plan d’intervention complet et coordonné du GTNO, qui résume sa démarche à long terme pour développer une économie saine, forte et moins tributaire des combustibles fossiles, mieux comprendre les effets du changement climatique, et favoriser l’autonomisation et l’adaptation au changement climatique.
Le Cadre décrit également la façon dont les TNO entendent contribuer au Cadre pancanadien sur la croissance propre et les changements climatiques, qui a été publié par le gouvernement fédéral, les provinces et les territoires en 2016 afin de mettre en application l’engagement du Canada en vertu de l’Accord de Paris.
Le Cadre est directement lié à la Stratégie énergétique 2030, le principal outil qu’emploiera le gouvernement pour réduire la dépendance des TNO aux combustibles fossiles, ce qui permettra de diminuer les émissions de gaz à effet de serre.
- Consultez le Cadre stratégique sur le changement climatique des TNO pour 2030
- Consultez le Plan d’action 2019-2023 relatif au Cadre stratégique sur le changement climatique des TNO pour 2030
Recherche scientifique et surveillance
La page Recherche scientifique et surveillance donne des détails sur le suivi des gaz à effet de serre entrepris par le GTNO et Environnement et Changement climatique Canada. Ces mécanismes de suivi permettent au GTNO de rendre compte des progrès réalisés vis-à-vis des cibles d’émissions décrites dans le Cadre stratégique sur le changement climatique des TNO pour 2030. Cette section présente aussi des partenariats et des projets de recherches sur les effets du changement climatique dans l’ensemble des TNO.
Répercussions et adaptation
La page Répercussions et adaptation donne un aperçu des travaux en cours pour surveiller et observer les effets du changement climatique et s’y adapter. Les effets du changement climatique sont apparents dans l’ensemble des TNO (en anglais seulement). Cette section illustre les effets actuellement observés aux TNO et les mesures d’adaptation prises par le GTNO.
Énergies renouvelables et efficacité énergétique
Pour mettre en œuvre la Stratégie énergétique 2030, des investissements sont effectués dans les énergies renouvelables et l’efficacité énergétique par l’entremise du ministère de l’Infrastructure, en partenariat avec l’Alliance énergétique de l’Arctique (Energy Alliance [AEA]).
Partenariats
La page Partenariats souligne quelques collaborations établies par le MECC afin de renforcer les approches adoptées pour lutter contre le changement climatique et ses répercussions.
Why we must act
Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time. It is affecting the Northwest Territories (NWT) in many ways.
The NWT is warming about four times the global rate — as highlighted in Canada's Changing Climate Report (2019) — which is causing significant changes in the natural environment. These changes include increasing permafrost thaw, greater coastal and river erosion, changing ice conditions and longer ice-free seasons, changes to water quality and quantity, increasing risk of wildfires, and new mammal, bird, insect and fish species moving north.
These changes to the natural environment are also impacting the health and well-being of the territory’s residents and their traditional livelihoods, as well as our infrastructure and economy.
Governments, industry, non-governmental organizations and Northerners are all looking for ways to respond to the opportunities and challenges of climate change.
- Responding to Climate Change in the NWT (Fact Sheet)
How is the GNWT taking action on climate change?
The 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework and 2019-2023 Climate Change Action Plan lay out the GNWT’s comprehensive and coordinated response to climate change, outlining a long-term approach to developing a strong, healthy economy that is less dependent on fossil fuels; increasing our understanding of the impacts of climate change; and improving our ability to build resilience and adapt to a changing climate.
The Framework also outlines how the territory will do its part to contribute to the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which was released by the federal government, provinces and territories in 2016 to implement Canada's commitment under the Paris Agreement.
The Framework is directly linked to the 2030 Energy Strategy, which is the primary mechanism that government will be using to decrease the NWT's dependency on fossil fuels, leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Science and monitoring
Science and monitoring provides further details on the greenhouse gas tracking undertaken by the GNWT and Environment and Climate Change Canada. These tracking mechanisms allow the GNWT to report on our progress towards our emission targets as outlined in the 2030 NWT Climate Strategic Framework. This section also details some of the research projects and partnerships investigating climate change impacts in the NWT.
Impacts and adaptation
Impacts and adaptation offers insight into the work currently being undertaken to monitor and observe climate change impacts and adapt to these impacts. Climate change is having an observable effect across the NWT. This section highlights the impacts observed in the NWT and the adaptation actions being undertaken by the GNWT.
Renewable energies and energy efficiency
Investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency are undertaken though the Department of Infrastructure, in partnership with Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA), to implement the 2030 Energy Strategy.
Partnerships
Partnerships highlights some of the partnerships the GNWT has developed in order to facilitate increased capacity in dealing with climate change and its impacts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Climate Change Strategic Framework
Why has the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework been developed?
Climate change represents serious environmental, economic and social challenges for the NWT.
The 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework outlines how the NWT can address these challenges from 2018 to 2030.
What are the main focus areas of the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework?
The 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework identifies three goals towards which the NWT must make significant progress by 2030. These goals include:
- Goal #1 - Transition to a strong, healthy economy that uses less fossil fuel, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2005 levels, by 2030.
- Goal #2 – Improve knowledge of the climate change impacts occurring in the NWT.
- Goal #3 – Build resilience and adapt to a changing climate.
How are the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework and 2030 Energy Strategy aligned?
The 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework rests on three pillars: knowledge, resilience and adaptation, and emissions mitigation. The Department of Infrastructure’s 2030 Energy Strategy is the primary mechanism the government will be using to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Both strategies were built on the vision of having a strong, healthy economy and an affordable, secure energy system for the NWT that is less reliant on fossil fuels, by 2030.
What is the status of the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework and 2019-2023 Action Plan?
The Framework and 2019-2023 Action Plan were finalized following engagement with Indigenous governments, stakeholders and the public. The Framework was released in May 2018. The 2019-2023 Action Plan, the first of two five-year Action Plans to guide the implementation of the Framework, was released in April 2019.
What is the GNWT doing to adapt to the impacts of climate change?
Until the recent development of the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework and associated 2019-2023 Action Plan, ECC was the primary GNWT department focused on climate change planning.
The 2019-2023 Action Plan reflects actions currently being led by several GNWT departments and external partners to move forward on adaptation priorities for the territory. It also includes a section on areas for future collaboration, which require funding and/or support to advance.
What is the GNWT doing to mitigate climate change and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?
The 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework along with the Department of Infrastructure’s 2030 Energy Strategy, lays out goals and targets that will ultimately reduce the territory’s GHG emissions in line with Canada’s national targets.
The NWT target is consistent with the federal government target to reduce to 30% below 2005 levels, by 2030.
Implementation of the 2030 Energy Strategy will see the NWT reduce GHG emissions from electricity generation in diesel-powered communities by an average of 25% and transportation by 10% per capita, while increasing the share of renewable energy used for space heating by 40% and increasing residential, commercial, and government building energy efficiency by 15%.
Federal funding is a crucial requirement to ensure our GHG reduction goals are met, and the GNWT has and continues to actively pursue such opportunities. A bilateral agreement between GNWT and Infrastructure Canada provides federal funding for investments in energy infrastructure in the NWT.
Furthermore, Environment and Climate Change Canada funding through the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund is supporting the implementation of the GHG Grant Program for Government and the GHG Grant Program for Buildings and Industry.
How does carbon pricing fit into the GNWT’s approach to addressing climate change?
Under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, all jurisdictions in Canada are required to implement some form of carbon pricing by 2019.
The GNWT engaged in public consultations on carbon pricing and has analyzed the results received to determine how carbon pricing should be implemented in the NWT.
The GNWT introduced a NWT carbon tax on fuels effective September 1, 2019 based on $20/tonne of GHG emissions. This will increase annually by $10/tonne until 2022 when it will reach a maximum of $50/tonne.