Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Strengthening the government's leadership and authority on climate change, ensuring climate change impacts are specifically considered when making government decisions, and increasing the use of alternative and renewable energy are mandate priorities of the 19th Legislative Assembly.
Climate change continues to be a critical issue facing us today and is affecting the Northwest Territories in many ways. That is why the Government of the Northwest Territories is taking real action to address climate change through implementing the NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework 2019-2023 Action Plan. One of the commitments the Government of the Northwest Territories made to strengthen our leadership and authority on climate change is to establish the NWT Climate Change Council. I am pleased to say that we have made progress on that commitment with the finalizing of the council's terms of reference.
Mr. Speaker, the Climate Change Council will be a forum for information sharing, collaboration, and engagement between representatives of Indigenous governments and organizations, community governments, and the Government of the Northwest Territories. It will provide guidance and advice to inform Government of the Northwest Territories' climate change and environment programs. The council and the Government of the Northwest Territories will also be advised by industry, non-government organizations, co-management bodies, and academia.
Mr. Speaker, not only has the Government of the Northwest Territories worked to establish the Climate Change Council, we have also released our first progress reports on our territory-wide approach to climate change in January. Environment and Natural Resources, the lead department for climate change, along with the Departments of Infrastructure and Finance, jointly released four reports:
- ENR's NWT Climate Change Action Plan Annual Report;
- Infrastructure's NWT Energy Initiatives Report;
- Finance's NWT Carbon Tax Report; and
- ENR's Plain Language Overview Report summarizing our government and partners' activities to address climate change.
The reports will collectively help keep our residents informed on the progress we are making on this important issue. We are making progress. Almost all actions under the Climate Change Action Plan are underway, and we are well-positioned to continue to transition to a low-carbon economy, improve knowledge of climate change impacts, and build resilience and adapt to climate change.
Mr. Speaker, another mandate commitment our government has made significant progress on is ensuring that climate change impacts are specifically considered when making government decisions. The Executive Council and Financial Management Board decision-making instruments have been updated to ensure climate change factors are considered and documented, as applicable, in decisions moving forward. This is a substantial milestone as the Northwest Territories is one of the few jurisdictions in Canada to include climate change considerations in its government's decision-making processes. This means that, moving forward, Cabinet and Financial Management Board decision papers, submissions, and legislative proposals will include climate-change factors for consideration. Integrating climate change considerations will improve accountability in the Government of the Northwest Territories' decision-making process.
Mr. Speaker, Northwest Territories residents are profoundly impacted by climate change, and the Government of the Northwest Territories must show leadership in addressing its impacts and opportunities. By working together both within our departments and with our partners, we can transition to a low-carbon economy, strengthening our understanding of the effects of climate change, and build resilience and adapt to a changing climate now and for future generations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
