Although Nunavummiut emit a small amount of GHGs in total, we are among the highest emitters of GHGs per person in Canada and the world. Although mitigating climate change by reducing the amount of GHGs we emit is very important (and this can be done by making energy-wise decisions), current scientific predictions suggest that even if we stopped all GHG emissions today, global average temperatures would continue to rise due to lags in the climate system. In other words, we will have to adapt to current and anticipated changes in our environment.
The Government of Nunavut has worked in partnership with communities, the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC), and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to develop pilot community climate change adaptation action plans and methodologies to determine impacts of changing permafrost conditions and a rising sea level on Nunavut communities. By working together as partners and incorporating known impacts of climate change into our decision-making and planning at all levels, we will be prepared to face a changing climate.