Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change who seems to be the lead on the climate emergency. I asked this question in the last sitting about whether our government considers climate change a crisis or an emergency. The answer was, from the infrastructure Minister was, quote, We could be dismissed or polarized by individuals who are holding very different views, end of quote. That's why we don't do it.
So following the horrendous fires this summer, can the Minister now tell us whether this government considers climate change an emergency for the Northwest Territories? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister responsible for Environment and Climate Change.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT continues to acknowledge the profound affect climate change is having in the NWT right now and the importance of building resiliency and addressing our emissions. Climate change has been a key part of this government's mandate. We've moved climate action in the territories forward through our climate change strategic framework and energy strategy. We're listening to Indigenous government partners through the NWT Climate Change Council, and we've advocated for the NWT perspective and funding at the federal and internationally level. We all agree that climate change will continue to affect our territories in many ways into the future, and we all need to work together to address this. Mr. Speaker, as the Member says, you look at climate change; four times of what the impact is at the national level. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. I didn't hear him actually use the word "crisis" or "emergency". At the recent Our Energy and Climate Future in a Changing World conference in July, some members of the public service used the words "crisis" and "emergency". So can the Minister tell us what the next steps are in GNWT's climate crisis approach as the current one continues to fail? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, other people use words that may or may not be what we're talking about. But the NWT is on track to meet its greenhouse gas emissions target though we acknowledge that this is in part due to the mine closure. GNWT departments are working with partners to implement the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategy Framework and Action Plan. Of the 132 action items in the action plan, 74 are completed and 58 are on track. The climate change council includes a youth council and have been meeting quarterly to improve coordination, communication around climate change. And I've had the opportunity to meet with that council. I would certainly not characterize this process as failing. GNWT will conduct an independent review on the NWT Climate Change Action Plan/Renewal Plan in 2025. The GNWT is currently in the process of conducting engagement on climate change mitigation and adaptation actions through public engagement and our collaborative work on the risk and opportunities assessment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister. Of course, I still haven't heard him say the word "crisis" or "emergency" in relation to climate change. But the Auditor General raised the failure of two previous GNWT strategies to reach their greenhouse gas reduction targets, and the current one would also fail without the closure of the Diavik mine. Can the Minister tell us whether GNWT will actually embrace net zero as a target and when we might expect to reach that? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, GNWT recently completed a broad public engagement on emissions and targets. One possible scenario discussed was net zero emissions. There is a need to balance healthy economy with climate change mitigation in the NWT. The NWT approach needs to be achievable given our remoteness and cold climate. Any change to the approach to emission targets in the NWT will be part of the renewed climate change action plan and energy strategy in 2025.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Final supplementary. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, Monsieur le President. I want to thank the Minister for that. Of course, we've actually already incorporated net zero as a target in the carbon tax that's been imposed. But many at the recent conference expressed concerns with the poor communications and accountability around GNWT's carbon tax, governance and direction at the NWT power corp, and need for communitybased renewable energy solutions rather than mega projects.
Can the Minister explain how the NWT is going to transition from a fossil fuel importer to energy resiliency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and drawing in the NWT power corp into building energy selfsufficiency? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, the GNWT recently completed broad public engagement on climate change mitigation emissions reduction. Any update to the approach to emissions target in the NWT will be part of the renewed climate change action plan and energy strategy in 2025. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
