Climate Change and its Impacts on the North

Speeches by Nick Sibbeston and Jamie Bastedo, March 6, 2008

The global issue of climate change will have significant and early impacts on the Northwest Territories.  Many are already being felt such as shorter, warmer winters, changes in precipitation patterns, the arrival of new species, melting permafrost and so on.  In my travels through the North, this issue is constantly being raised by elders, youth and community leaders.  Everyone, it seems, has a story to tell about the changing northern environment.

This year, I applied for and received funding from the Senate Liberal Caucus Resource Fund to undertake a special study on The Impacts of Climate Change -- A NWT Perspective.

The objectives of the study are:

·         To undertake summative research on past and on-going scientific research into the effects of climate change on the NWT.

·         To undertake community consultations through out the NWT to gather perspectives on climate change impacts – using various communication and research tools, including a limited number of community visits.

·         To produce a “primer” on climate change from a northern perspective suitable for decision makers and the general public.

I've hired well-known Yellowknife writer and consultant, Jamie Bastedo, to do this work.  It should be complete in late Fall and I'll be distributing the results across the NWT and to my Senate colleagues in Ottawa.