On August 20, 60 young Canadians across Canada issued a declaration that lays out a call for action on northern climate change. The declaration highlights four areas of concern about the progress of climate change issues and upcoming negotiations and concludes with a call for action. The four areas of concern are:
- climate change is a human issue,
- the North is highly vulnerable to climate change,
- climate change is happening now,
- strong action by Canada and the international community is needed immediately.
The young leaders from across Canada gathered in Inuvik, Northwest Territories for a summit on climate change on August 17 to 20. The Summit helped to build the capacity of our young leaders to speak on climate change at home, nationally and internationally. 2009 is a critical year as the international community negotiates what countries' greenhouse gas reductions targets and other commitments will look like after 2012. It is vital that northern voices are heard during these negotiations, and the Summit and resulting action plans generated by participants will help this to happen.
If media wish to contact delegates from your area who attended this summit, contact us for connecting information.
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Read the Declaration
For more information about the summit visit www.climateleaders.ca
or contact:
Daniel T'seleie
Ecology North
Phone: (867) 873-6019
Email: daniel@ecologynorth.ca
Jennifer Grant
Director, Arctic Energy Solution
The Pembina Institute
Phone: 867-873-4309
Email: jenniferg@pembina.org
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Summit Co-hosts:
Arctic Athabaskan Council
Whitehorse, Yukon
www.arcticathabaskancouncil.com
Gwich'in Council International
Inuvik, Northwest Territories
www.gwichin.org
Ecology North
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
www.ecologynorth.ca
Climate Action Network Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
www.climateactionnetwork.ca
Pembina Institute
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
www.pembina.org