Climate change is affecting Nunavut’s land, wildlife and communities through warming temperatures, melting ice and shifting ecosystems. These changes make climate action especially important across the territory.

International Day of Climate Action takes place every year on Oct. 24. It provides an opportunity to learn more about climate change, talk about what it means for our communities and take action.

On Sept. 16, 2026, Mitigation Specialist Maxime Dubeau joined residents of Naujaat, representatives from Qulliq Energy Corporation (QEC), Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and Ikayuut project partners to mark the completion and connection of the Ikayuut Solar and Energy Storage Project. 

Energy efficiency means using less energy to achieve the same result, such as lighting a room or keeping your home warm. Replacing older light bulbs with LEDs and sealing drafts around windows and doors are two examples.

Climate change is already affecting the land and ice across Nunavut. Communities are observing changes such as thawing permafrost, unusually warm temperatures and thinner or less predictable sea and lake ice.

Across Nunavut, lakes provide drinking water, support fish and wildlife and become important travel routes when they freeze. They are also closely connected to the land, weather and changing seasons around them. As the climate changes, lakes are changing too. 

Aug. 27 is World Lake Day. Created by the United Nations, World Lake Day is an opportunity to recognize the importance of lakes and the pressures they face. 

On July 27, 2026, campers from the City of Iqaluit’s summer day camp program took part in a “Postcards from the Future” activity organized by Maren Hayward, a summer student with the Nunavut Climate Change Secretariat (CCS). The activity is part of a project collecting stories from youth across Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

Arctic Sea Ice is Changing: What That Means for Nunavut

In Nunavut, sea ice plays an important role in the lives of Nunavummiut. It supports Arctic wildlife, creates travel routes to harvesting areas and other communities, and helps regulate the global climate.

On June 11, 2026, the Honourable Brian Koonoo, Minister of Environment, announced the renaming of the Nunavut Climate Champions Toolkit to the Joshua Ipeelie Komangapik Climate Champions Toolkit in honour of Nunavut Climate Change Youth Advisory Committee (NuCCYAC) member Joshua Ipeelie Komangapik.

On World Bicycle Day, the Nunavut Climate Change Secretariat in partnership with the Government of Nunavut’s Department of Health invite Nunavummiut to take simple, meaningful climate action by choosing to ride a bike instead of driving.