The Government of Yukon is committed to fighting climate change and is introducing 42 new actions to its climate strategy, Our Clean Future: A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy.
These new actions will be incorporated into the Our Clean Future strategy and implemented by 2030. They focus on seven key areas of climate action, including transportation, homes and buildings, energy, people and the environment, communities, innovation and leadership.
Overall, they contribute to the Yukon government's four key Our Clean Future goals:
- Reducing the Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions;
- Supporting Yukoners to access reliable, affordable and renewable energy;
- Making sure the Yukon is adapting to climate change impacts; and
- Supporting the transition to a green economy.
The Government of Yukon is also sharing its third annual progress report on climate action. The Our Clean Future 2022 annual report details the government's progress on Our Clean Future goals and targets, including progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing the actions outlined in the strategy.
As outlined in the Our Clean Future annual report, the Government of Yukon implemented significant climate actions in 2022, including:
- introducing a new Clean Energy Act to legislate the Yukon's greenhouse gas reduction targets;
- a new Better Buildings program to offer affordable financing for energy retrofits on Yukoners' homes and buildings;
- establishing a geohazard mapping program to understand the risks from climate change to the Yukon's transportation corridors; and
- making significant progress on Community Wildfire Protection Plans for communities across the Yukon.
"Our government is committed to taking ambitious action now to adapt to climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Today provides an important opportunity to assess the progress we have achieved so far and to envision how we can further advance towards our climate targets. I look forward to continuing to advance this important work alongside Yukoners."
Minister of Environment Nils Clarke
"Across the Yukon, there is incredible work being done by Yukon First Nations, municipalities, businesses, industry and Yukoners to address climate change. It is critically important that we all take action now to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Through our collective action we can make the transitions to a green economy, adapt and build resilience. Together, we have an opportunity to reach our long-term goal of being net-zero by 2050 and leaving a cleaner, better future for all Yukoners."
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker
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The 42 new actions added to the strategy are outlined in Appendix D of the Our Clean Future 2022 annual report.
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The 42 new actions added to the strategy were informed by:
- The Yukon Climate Leadership Council's Climate Shot 2030 report (released September 2022), which provided advice on actions the government could take to further reduce the Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions;
- The government's climate risk assessment report, assessing climate risk and resilience in the Yukon (released September 2022), which outlines seven priority areas to address to support the Yukon in adapting to climate change; and
- The work of the Youth Panel on Climate Change, who shared youth perspectives to support the government's work on climate change.
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The 2022 annual report highlights the rolling average of electricity generated from renewable resources on the Yukon's main grid over the past 25 years is 95 per cent. In 2022, 92 per cent of the grid's electricity was generated from renewable sources.
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The 2022 annual report highlights that in 2021, greenhouse gas emissions, not including mining emissions, were one per cent above 2010 levels. They were four per cent above 2020 levels.
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Notably, under the Build a green economy section, per capita emissions for Yukoners reduced 13 per cent and per unit of GDP reduced 18 per cent from 2010 to 2021. These are significant indicators that the strategy is working.
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In 2023, further progress was also made on many actions. For example:
- the Mining Intensity Target was set at 45 per cent intensity reduction by 2035;
- the Yukon surpassed 300 electric vehicles registered and 1,000 rebates issued for electric bikes; and
- electric vehicle chargers were completed in Ross River, Faro, Mendenhall, Beaver Creek, and Burwash Landing allowing for travel between all road-connected Yukon communities.
