Communities come together to build Nunavut’s climate resilience
News Release
Communities come together to build Nunavut’s climate resilience
IQALUIT, Nunavut (February 3, 2017) - The Government of Nunavut (GN) and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI), in partnership with the Government of Canada, hosted three days of meetings to discuss building Nunavut’s resilience to climate change. The meetings took place from January 31 to February 2, 2017, in Iqaluit.
The event brought together nearly 70 community members, representing every community in Nunavut. Elders, youth, hunters and trappers organizations, and community stakeholders participated in discussions on how Inuit have adapted to changes in the past, challenges communities currently face, and how communities can build resilience in the future.
"We need to ensure that we engage communities to prepare and plan for climate change," said Joe Savikataaq, Nunavut’s Minister of Environment. "It’s critical that community voices are heard and incorporated into the mitigation and adaptation planning process for our government’s programs. I am focussed on meaningful engagement with Nunavummiut as we move forward together in this area."
"This was a successful first step forward in engaging communities in adaptation and building resilience. We are committed to continuing this positive engagement with communities. When we are involved in the co-development of solutions, communities will have a better chance to adapt to the changes we are seeing and expect to see in the future. We hope to see more partnerships like this one as we move towards the future," said James Eetoolook, Vice-President of NTI.
Participants shared stories and discussed how communities can work with all levels of government and Inuit organizations to develop a collaborative path forward. Meetings sought to gather participant input and information on local priorities, interests and needs necessary to build climate-resilient communities across Nunavut.
Results from the meetings will directly support Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada in developing a Northern Adaptation Strategy, and will also help to plan funding and programs for northern communities. The GN’s Climate Change Secretariat and NTI will use results and feedback from the meetings to help shape the territory’s adaptation priorities for the coming years. A report on meeting results will be shared in the coming months.
To share your own story of adaptation and climate resilience, visit www.climatechangenunavut.ca or email @email.
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For more information, contact:
Zoë Martos
Manager, Climate Change Communications
Government of Nunavut
867-975-7755
@email
Kerry McCluskey
Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
867-975-4914 or 1-888-646-0006
@email