Abstracts

Northern Impacts and Adaptation Strategy: Partnership Approach to Developing a Comprehensive Strategy

Leslie Whitby
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada
whitbyl@inac.gc.ca

The Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has been working in partnership with Aboriginal organizations for the last 5 years on raising awareness, building capacity and developing initiatives related to climate change impacts and adaptation. This work led to communities identifying an important base of Traditional Environmental Knowledge on climate change information, as well as identifying key issues and priorities in terms of adaptation to impacts. In addition, an analysis of northern adaptation issues raised by the Arctic Impact Climate Assessment (2004) was conducted to determine key priorities that need to be addressed related to federal government perspectives.

In the fall of 2004, built on the work accomplished and the release of the ACIA report, INAC and its northern partners agreed on coordinating their efforts and developing a Northern Impact and Adaptation Strategy. During this exercise, the partnership conducted analysis of previous work produced and held discussions with communities, governments and other stakeholders to develop common priorities and course of actions. The partnership expects to complete the strategy by the summer of 2005 and start working together on implementation for the benefit of all northern communities. The principles, processes and initiatives will be outlined in this presentation, and input from the broader community of impacts and adaptation experts sought.

2005-04-05