Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Reports indicate increasingly severe effects of climate change on northern regions. The latest U.S. reports describe conditions such as increasing permafrost temperatures around the globe, the lowest snow accumulations in the North since 1966, warming summers with longer spring melt seasons, and increasing rates of loss of sea ice.
Record low water levels reveal an example of local effects. How many props did you go through this year out on the big lake? It’s estimated that permafrost melt at past rates will cost us greater than $400 million over 20 years repairing infrastructure damage by collapsing soils. This figure can only be rising. Climate change is coming at us from every direction and the more we learn, the more extreme the picture gets.
Throughout this Assembly I’ve pressed the urgency of aggressive action to halt and start rolling back the NWT contribution to worsening conditions, demonstrating leadership that can be emulated around the poles. With the support of my colleagues, this government has taken strong action to get its House in order and I applaud these efforts. With public support, this government must now increase the contribution of our entire society through leadership and outreach.
In the current development of a new Greenhouse Gas Strategy, I’m pressing for ambitious emission reduction targets with clear plans on how to achieve them. I spoke on the review of MACA budgets on continuing inaction to establish energy efficiency standards for municipal infrastructure constructed with territorial dollars and other missed opportunities. More details were announced this week on the City of Yellowknife’s incredible progress towards tapping geothermal heat for the centuries ahead. Fort McPherson is looking at local biomass heat. The NWT Association of Municipalities has launched its ambitious Climate Change Adaptation Project, with other staff looking at mitigation. Our partners across the NWT society are addressing the challenges and we can do more.
European examples show that when government leads by creating carbon emission limits, the economy takes over and drives the results on the basis of low carbon’s improved economics. Government must lead by creating a systemic and interlocking network of law and policy to help our citizens do their part. The GNWT has had great success and we are achieving big cost savings. Let’s do even better by harnessing the commitment of all our citizens.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
