Download climate change policy in the arctic

CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY
IN THE ARCTIC
THE CASES OF GREENLAND,
NUNAVUT AND THE ICC
Dr. Natalia Loukacheva
[email protected]
OBJECTIVE
 Explore climate change policies
 Analyze the legal-institutional axis
 Examine dimensions, resilience and
effectiveness of governmental and nongovernmental institutions
 Identify capacities of multi-level governance
systems
 Present an overview of the ICC climate
change policy and its nexus with Greenlandic
and Nunavut approaches
Climate change policy in Nunavut
Criticism
Dimensions-mitigation/adaptation
Steps
Institutions involved
Conclusion
STEPS: Government of Nunavut (GN)
 September 2002 - support for the Kyoto Accord
 July 2003 - adoption of Nunavut Climate Change Policy
 October 2003 – MOU for Cooperation on Addressing
Climate Change
 December 2004 – present involvement in the Northern
Strategy
 2004 – Pinasuaqtavut 2004-2009 emphasis on
environmental issues
 April 2005 – roundtable on how climate change issues
should be included in the Northern Strategy
 2003-2006 – development of various government
strategies related to climate change matters
Nunavut Climate Change Strategy
Focus on: mitigation and adaptation
 Encouraging Action
 Promoting Technology Development and
Innovation
 Enhancing Awareness and
Understanding
 Government Leading by Example
 Investing in Knowledge and Building a
Foundation
MOU 2003-2008 priorities
Nunavut and Government of Canada agreed to:
 Reduction and prevention of greenhouse gas emissions
via energy efficiency, management, conservation,
development of alternative and renewable energy
 Promotion of technologies, creation jobs, and
opportunities for cost-effective economic development
 Monitoring, reporting, review mechanisms for emissions
reductions
 Increase public awareness, education, knowledge of the
impact of climate change
 Development of measures to adaptation
Pinasuaqtavut 2004 and Roundtable on
Northern Strategy 2005
Pinasuaqtavut 2004-2009:
 Higher regard on environmental issues
 Implementation of the Nunavut Climate Change Strategy
 Conservation, reduction of energy usage, alternative
sources to diesel fuel for electricity generation
Roundtable 2005
 Devolution
 Implementation of the NLCA
 Turning of scientific knowledge into action
 Better partnership with various stakeholders
 Focus on specific government policies, mitigationadaptation
Institutions
Institutions of public governance:
Government of Nunavut
NLCA bodies (e.g. Co-management
Boards)
Land Claim Organizations:
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI)
3 Regional Inuit Associations
Adaptation Strategies in Nunavut
Institutional adaptation
Legislative Adaptation
Technological Strategy
Behavioral Strategy
Community-based approach vs.
scientific and government
mandates
Department of Environment and Wildlife
 Promotion of environmental stewardship –
avatimik kamattiarniq
 Implementation of the Nunavut Climate Change
Strategy
 Establishment in Nunavut of Canada-Climate
Change Impacts Adaptation Research NetworkNorth
 Completed project on Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
(IQ) of climate change across Nunavut
 Consideration of community-based approach
Mitigation
Department of Economic Development and
Transportation:
initiatives on alternative energy sources
Alternative Sources of Power:
 Wind
 Hydro
 Thermal-electric generation
 Nuclear
 Solar (the Diversitel power supply system)
Co-management Boards and NTI
Co-management Boards
 Problem with institutional capability
 Problem with implementation of the NLCA
 Cooperation with various institutions
 Problem with financial resources
NTI
 Pro-active approach (workshops, resolution etc.)
 Actions against Federal Government for nonimplementation of Art. 12.7.6 of the NLCA
(Environmental Monitoring )
 Documents related to climate change: e.g. 2005 Study
on Climate Change terminology together with the
Government of Nunavut Department of Culture,
Language, Elders and Youth; Uranium policy 2006 etc.
Conclusion
 Role of Nunavut institutions and their capacity
 Approach
 Challenges
 Problems
 Connection of climate change policy with other
governmental policies
 Decision-making ability
 Recommendations for further action
Climate change policy in Greenland
“Climate change is a “hot” issue in
Greenland. We observe many
changes to our environment that
affect out traditional way of life.”
Premier H.E. Hans Enoksen, Ilulissat August 16,
2005.
Greenland is becoming green!
Mitigation - Adaptation
 Research and investments in technologies
 Institutional support
 Targets and timetables to cut greenhouse gas
emissions
 Dealing with positive and negatives impacts of
climate change
 Raising awareness
Dimensions
 Ratified and signed the Kyoto Accord together with the
Danish Government
 Support an amendment to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change acknowledging the
Arctic’s vulnerability to climate change
 Pro-active in international efforts to protect environment
(e.g. the Arctic Council, the Nordic Council etc.)
 The HRG signed with the USA and Government of
Denmark a Joint Declaration on Cooperation and
Environment (2004).
Alternative energy sources



1.
2.
Solar
Wind
Hydrogen production
From glaciers
By using the excess energy from the
hydropower plant in
Kangerluarsunnguaq/Buksefjorden
Conclusion on Greenland’s policy
The ICC’s climate change policy and its
nexus with Greenland and Nunavut
 NGO vs. GOs and land claim organizations
 Trans-Arctic NGO vs. sub-national governments
of units, belonging to the two Arctic States
 The ICC mandate vs. the GN, the GHRG
mandates
 Similarities, differences, conflict areas, overlap,
and nature of cooperation
 Resilience, the scope and level of contribution,
effectiveness of climate change policy measures
Conclusion
Dimensions
Approach
Priorities
Institutional efficiency
Recommendations