Government of Canada supports Indigenous communities tracking the effects of climate change

Press Release

From: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

June 10, 2019 – Ottawa (Ont.) – Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The impacts of climate change are being felt across Canada, with significant implications for the lands and territories of Indigenous (Inuit, Métis and First Nation) communities. To help inform community-based solutions to the risks posed by climate change, the Government of Canada is working with Indigenous communities across the country to gather knowledge on and track the impacts of climate change on their traditional lands and waters.

Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced that since its inception in 2017-2018 Canada’s Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program (ICBCMP) has supported over 100 community-based climate monitoring related projects across Canada with investments of over $9 million as of the end of March 2019.

ICBCMP gives Indigenous communities funding to monitor climate indicators, using both Indigenous Knowledge and science, to provide the necessary data to inform community adaptation actions. The program complements other federal programs, such as First Nation Adapt, Climate Change Preparedness in the North, and Climate Change and Health Adaptation, by generating data that can feed into climate adaptation plans.

Together with related federal programs under Canada’s climate action plan, the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada is building the knowledge and capacity necessary to make informed decisions about how best to address the impacts of our changing climate.

Quotes

“More than 100 community-based projects and counting have accessed funds to better track the growing effects of climate change. The important data they are collecting will better prepare them in developing climate adaptation strategies and contribute toward building a clearer picture of how climate change is affecting us all.”

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

Quick facts

• Budget 2017 committed $31.4 million over five years to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to support Indigenous communities and organizations with climate monitoring;
• ICBCMP is currently accepting proposals from Inuit communities and organizations in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut.

Associated links

• Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program
• Indigenous Community-Based Climate Monitoring Program List of Projects funded in 2018-2019
• Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change
• Environment and Climate Change Canada – Climate Action Map
• Infrastructure Canada – Invest in Canada Plan

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Matthew Dillon-Leitch
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
819-997-0002

Media Relations
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
819-934-2302
RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@canada.ca

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