Mr. Speaker, climate change is one of the biggest challenges that we face as a territory. The. NWT is experiencing rapid warming at up to four times the global rate which affects every aspect of our lives and impacts our territory's economic, environmental, social, and cultural health. Today, the Department of Environment and Climate Change released the Responding to Climate Change in the NWT Annual Report. I am pleased to report that the Government of the Northwest Territories and partners across the territory are making real progress on this front.
Mr. Speaker, all 132 action items under the NWT Climate Change Action Plan are either ongoing or completed, and partnership is crucial to our success. As highlighted in the annual report, we are working with partners to secure funding for the development of fuel breaks in 29 communities as well as the construction of 60 climateresilient homes in 19 communities equipped with fireresistant materials and foundations resistant to permafrost thaw.
The GNWT is working with partners and the NWT Climate Change Council to develop a suite of interactive courses and training modules for workers to build climate adaptation skills within the NWT workforce. We are also exploring a pilot program to implement a riskbased approach to community planning in up to five NWT communities. We are partnering with the NWT Geological Survey, CrownIndigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, and NWT communities to advance hazard mapping and surficial mapping for communities. This mapping of permafrost sensitivity will help communities plan for adaptation to permafrost thaw.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT continues to invest significant resources to address climate change and implement the actions identified in our climate change and energy action plans. To access the funding, we need to mitigate emissions and adapt infrastructure. We continue to engage with the federal government on multiple federal climate change initiatives, such as the National Adaptation Strategy the Emissions Reduction Plan, Canada's Climate Change Science and Knowledge Plan, carbon pricing and critical minerals.
Work is well underway to inform a renewed fiveyear NWT Climate Change Action Plan. The Departments of Environment and Climate Change and Infrastructure are codeveloping a What We Heard report from the July 2023 workshop on the NWT's approach to energy and climate change and emissions targets. We have also worked with partners over the last two years to develop a territorial risks and opportunities assessment to inform our climate change adaptation priorities. Both of these processes will inform the renewed fiveyear action plan which will be ready for review and engagement with the public, Indigenous governments and Indigenous organizations in the summer of 2024.
Mr. Speaker, addressing climate change is not going to happen overnight, and we cannot do it alone. The GNWT remains committed to working with partners to address the serious impacts that climate change is having on NWT communities and ecosystems and on the health and safety of residents. By partnering on climate action with Indigenous and community governments, comanagement boards, academia, nongovernmental organizations, and the Government of Canada, we are delivering on a shared vision of a healthy and resilient NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Ministers' statements. Minister for Health and Social Services.
