Canada invests in climate education and awareness in Nunavut
Press Release
From: Environment and Climate Change Canada
July 26, 2019 – Iqaluit, Nunavut
Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Increasing education, awareness, and action on climate change supports Canada’s efforts to protect the environment and transition to a cleaner economy.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced $200,000 in funding through the federal government’s Climate Action Fund to ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre (iSDC). The funding will help increase awareness about climate change in Nunavut by educating Inuit youth, students, and businesses. iSDC will share information on how people can reduce their energy consumption, provide tips on energy conservation, and talk about how we can all take climate action in our lives.
The Climate Action Fund provides up to $3 million to support projects delivered by students, youth, Indigenous peoples and organizations, not-for-profit organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and research and educational institutions.
Funded projects will raise awareness of climate change and clean growth and encourage others to take action in support of Canada’s climate goals.
Quotes
“Canada’s North is warming three times faster than the global average. The Government of Canada is working closely with Indigenous peoples, all orders of government, and the private sector to help Canadians adapt and build resilience to the impacts of climate changes. I’m especially happy to know this program will reach students and young people. Across the country, young people are standing up, asking leaders to take climate action. It’s their future we’re fighting for. We are only borrowing the planet from them.”
– Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre is excited to be able to work with Inuit organizations, circumpolar energy specialists, educators, Inuit elders, and youth to explore the issue of climate change, energy consumption and personal and community options for action. Inuit youth are 50% of our population and our future leaders as energy advocates. Helping build knowledge, skills and attitudes is what we do through accredited learning activities and materials. This funding will help build Northern capacity while encouraging action on climate change across Nunavut.”
– Helen Roos, President and Lead Instructor, ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre (iSDC)
Quick facts
- The goal of iSDC’s project, “Our People, Our Climate,” is to increase awareness on climate change in the territory through the creation of education and outreach materials targeting Inuit youth, elders, and business owners. A key focus will be to strengthen Indigenous traditional knowledge and cultural components to support climate action.
- The project will deliver initiatives aimed at supporting climate change action, including a five module training program with relevant information on climate change and energy with content that will be bilingual in English and Inuktitut. The immediate outcome will be increased awareness on climate change among Indigenous peoples, elders, youth, and businesses.
- The project will engage key stakeholders in Iqaluit that represent a wide range of energy users including social housing, market-based housing, government housing, commercial space users and broad socio-economic backgrounds in an effort to identify learning needs and knowledge gaps regarding climate change.
- The ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre delivers a range of competency-based pre-employment or skills development training customized to reflect the working realities of Canada’s North and Indigenous cultural values.
Associated links
Contacts
Bronwen Jervis
Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
873-353-8851
bronwen.jervis@canada.ca
Helen Roos
President and Lead Instructor, ilinniapaa Skills Development Centre (iSDC)
867-222-9570
helen@ilinniapaa.ca
Media Relations
Environment and Climate Change Canada
819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
ec.media.ec@canada.ca
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