Climate change in the Yukon

Climate change refers to the significant changes we are seeing to:

• average temperature;
• precipitation;
• wind patterns; and
• other aspects of the climate in the Yukon and around the world.

The Yukon is already warming at a rate twice as fast as the entire globe.

Studies project:

• temperatures will continue to warm; and
• average annual precipitation will increase and become more variable.

These changes influence risks and opportunities from:

• permafrost thaw;
• extreme weather events;
• changes to snow, ice and water; and
• changes to vegetation and wildlife.

Climate change is caused by the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. These mainly come from human activities that burn fossil fuels. These activities range from driving vehicles and heating buildings to commercial and industrial processes.

Read more:

• The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report
• Canada in a Changing Climate: Advancing Knowledge for Action

As set out in Our Clean Future: A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy, we're taking action to:

• reduce the Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, heating, electricity generation and other areas by 45 per cent by 2030;
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Yukon’s mines per unit of material produced;
• generate 97 per cent of the electricity on the Yukon’s main grid from renewable sources by 2030 on average;
• make sure the Yukon is highly resilient to the impacts of climate change by 2030; and
• build a sustainable green economy.

Learn more about Our Clean Future: 

• Our Clean Future website 
• Our Clean Future 2021 annual progress report 

The Yukon climate risk and resilience assessment was a 2-year project completed in 2022. The project:

• reviewed past and projected climate change impacts;
• developed a framework for climate resilience in the Yukon;
• identified areas where climate risks are significant and where we're already taking action; and
• recommended ways to build on Our Clean Future.

This report helps us make informed, forward-looking decisions to decrease the negative ways climate change can impact our health and wellbeing, livelihoods and way of life.

The assessment invited perspectives from across the Yukon and built on public input for Our Clean Future. Participants included representatives from Indigenous and municipal governments, the Governments of Yukon and Canada, Elders, knowledge holders and youth, academia, non-profit organizations and local subject-matter experts.

• Read the full report (Assessing Climate Change: Risk and Resilience in the Yukon)
• Read the executive summary

We're using the findings of the climate risk and resiliency assessment to identify where we need to adjust or revise our adaptation actions in Our Clean Future.

Climate change is caused by the release of greenhouse gases, mainly from human activities that burn fossil fuels.

In the Yukon, these activities range from driving vehicles and heating buildings to commercial and industrial processes.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the most well-known greenhouse gas. Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are also common greenhouse gases. These gases build up in Earth’s atmosphere and create a sort of transparent “blanket” over the Earth just like the walls of a greenhouse.

What are the Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions?

In the Yukon, greenhouse gas emissions mostly come from transportation and heating, with a smaller amount from mining, electricity generation, waste and other areas.

Our greenhouse gas emissions data is reported on a 2-year time lag. This is because of the length of time required to compile and analyze data.

While the Yukon’s total greenhouse gas emissions are 0.1 per cent of Canada’s emissions because of our small population, our per person emissions of around 17.5 tonnes per person are the 6th highest in Canada and higher than many other countries.

What are our greenhouse gas reduction targets?

By 2030, we will reduce the Yukon’s total greenhouse emissions from transportation, heating, electricity generation, other commercial and industrial activities, waste and other areas so that our emissions in these areas are 45% lower than they were in 2010.

Based on modelling, we estimate that we need to reduce the Yukon’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions by 343 kilotonnes. The actions in Our Clean Future will only get us just over 1/3 of the way there. Together, recommendations from the Yukon’s Youth Panel on Climate Change and the Yukon Climate Leadership Council, as well as ongoing research and innovation will support us in reaching our 45% emissions reduction target.

Read about Our Clean Future to learn more about how we will close this gap.

We also have a plan to address greenhouse gas emissions from mining, which are not part of the 45% reduction target described above. By the end of 2022, we will work with industry to set a target for greenhouse gas emissions from placer and quartz mining that will see Yukon mines produce fewer emissions of greenhouse gases across their lifecycle for every kilogram or kilotonne of material produced.

This intensity-based target will encourage industry to look for innovative ways to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from mining, regardless of how many mines are operating.

From 2009 to 2019, emissions from placer and quartz mining have varied from year to year depending on the amount of mining activity in the Yukon. Overall, mining emissions ranged from 8 to 14% of the Yukon’s total emissions over this period.

How are the Yukon’s emissions calculated?

The Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions are calculated using two main sources of information to provide the most accurate picture of the Yukon’s emissions:

• the Government of Canada’s National Inventory Report , which reports greenhouse gas emissions across the country; and
• information about fossil fuel sales in the Yukon collected by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics.

The Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions only account for emissions that are produced within the Yukon’s borders. For example, a truck that drives from British Columbia to the Yukon to deliver food will produce greenhouse gas emissions in both British Columbia and the Yukon. By looking at truck logs that report how many kilometres were driven in the Yukon, we can figure out how much of the truck’s emissions count toward the Yukon’s total. Greenhouse gas emissions are tracked and reported on the basis of political borders to avoid double counting when reporting Canadian or global emissions.

Read the latest reports on Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions: 

• 2020 report
• 2019 report

What are the Government of Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions?

In 2019, Government of Yukon emission reporting was expanded to include both government departments and corporations. As government corporation data was collected for the first time, data for these organizations is not available prior to 2019.

In 2020, emissions from the Government of Yukon’s operations, including government corporations, but excluding electricity generation emissions, made up approximately 7% of the Yukon’s total greenhouse gas emissions at 78.8 kilotonnes.

Government of Yukon department emissions mainly come from building heating, followed by transportation, electricity and other sources, such as refrigerants and waste.

Read the latest reports on the Government of Yukon's emissions: 

• 2020 report 
• 2019 report 

First Yukon Climate Leadership Council

The Government of Yukon established the first Yukon Climate Leadership Council in November 2021. 11 people with diverse backgrounds, knowledge and expertise were selected for the territory's first Yukon Climate Leadership Council to serve a 1-year term.

Using the current Our Clean Future strategy as a framework, the council has developed a set of recommendations to reach the 45 per cent reduction target.

Recommendations to reach emissions targets 

The Yukon Climate Leadership Council has shared their recommendations with the Government of Yukon on how to reach the Yukon’s 45 per cent greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

Read Climate Shot 2030: Recommendations on how to reduce Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. 

Members 

Coral Voss

Affiliation: Yukon Conservation Society

Coral Voss is the Executive Director of Yukon Conservation Society. She brings more than 4 years' experience in the Yukon not-for-profit sector. Coral also brings an interdisciplinary research background from her education at UBC and York University in Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies. Much of her research has been centred on community, collaboration, knowledge engagement and climate change adaptation. In particular, much of her work has focused on environmental holism, knowledge co-creation, relational bridging between knowledge systems and the impacts of climate change in northern communities.

David Silas

Affiliation: Yukon University

David Silas is from Pelly Crossing, Yukon, and a member of the Wolf Clan, a part of the Selkirk First Nation and from the Northern Tutchone language group in the central Yukon. David’s grandparents on his mother’s side are David and Martha Silas and mother Pearl Silas; and on his father's side Alex and Richard Van Bibber. In 2018, David finished a Bachelor of Science Degree with the University of Alberta and is currently pursuing his master's. He was able to obtain his bachelor’s degree at home in the Yukon which allowed him to stay near his Traditional Territory and connect with his culture, traditions and land. David has been an active Canadian Ranger for over 13 years and enjoys spending time on the land with friends and family doing season harvesting activities. David views education as a stepping stone for engaging First Nations to get involved in their community and make a difference.

Forest Pearson

Affiliation: Professional engineer      

Forest Pearson is a life-long Yukoner and a professional engineer providing environmental consulting services with Morrison Hershfield in Whitehorse. He has a degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  

Forest has worked in the environmental consulting industry for almost 25 years, primarily in the Yukon. Much of Forest’s recent work has been for a variety of territorial, municipal and First Nations governments, and utility and private sector clients related to renewable energy projects.

Outside of his professional practice, Forest has designed and developed high-performance sustainable homes.

Forest also really enjoys the quality of life brought by riding a bicycle.  

Hector Campbell

Affiliation: Yukon Chamber of Commerce – Energy Committee

Hector Campbell holds 2 degrees: a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's of Business Administration. He has worked in the electricity sector his entire career, of which the last 30 years have been in the Yukon. Hector retired from working full time with a Yukon electrical utility in 2016 and has been working as an energy consultant since that time. He's the past Chair of the Yukon Chamber of Commerce Energy Committee and past Director on the Yukon Chamber of Commerce Board. He was Chair of the Yukon’s Low Carbon Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

Kim Lisgo

Affiliation: University of Alberta and Yukon University

Kim Lisgo is a conservation scientist at the University of Alberta/Yukon University and has been advising decision makers based on applied research for more than 20 years. Kim has technical expertise with regards to climate change in the context of land management, including tools to address uncertainty and risk. She's passionate about using scientific tools and local knowledge to address the climate crisis, working with community and international partners. Kim has led and worked with several multi-disciplinary research and land planning teams across the boreal forest region of Canada and Alaska, involving government, First Nations, industry and environmental groups. 

Kirsten Hogan

Affiliation: Aperture Consulting Inc.

Kirsten Hogan, P.Eng., is an engineering entrepreneur who founded Aperture Consulting Inc. in 2006. Kirsten earned her Bachelor and Master's of Science in Engineering degrees at the University of Guelph. She currently works as a consulting engineer for Aperture Consulting Inc. and Associated Engineering. Her work in the environmental field has included greenhouse gas quantification, carbon footprint analysis and reduction, energy planning and climate adaptation for clients across western Canada. She's served on various Yukon boards and councils and is the current President of Engineers Yukon. Outside of her professional career, Kirsten is an active volunteer in the Whitehorse community and enjoys the beautiful Yukon wilderness as often as possible with her family and friends. 

Michael Ross

Affiliation: Yukon University

Michael Ross is the Industrial Research Chair in Northern Energy Innovation at Yukon University. His research areas focus on integrating a high penetration of renewable generation in remote communities, diesel efficiencies, demand-side management, smart grids and microgrids. Michael received his Master’s and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at McGill University and his Bachelor of Applied Science at the University of Toronto. He's a registered Professional Engineer with Engineers Yukon, a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in the State of Alaska, a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Power and Energy Society and CIGRÉ Canada, and a Level 1 electrician apprentice.

Rosa Brown

Affiliation: Vuntut Gwitchin Government

Rosa Brown is the Energy Coordinator for the Vuntut Gwitchin Government.  She's part of the team that planned, built and now operates Sree Vyah, the Old Crow Solar Project,  and is working toward implementing other community-owned, clean energy alternatives to diesel generation in Old Crow. Rosa holds an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Guelph, and will complete a Master of Sustainability in Energy Security from the University of Saskatchewan in the spring of 2022. Rosa has called the Yukon home for over 20 years.

Sean Smith

Affiliation: Yukon Native Language Centre

Sean Smith is a Kwanlin Dün First Nation Citizen, born and raised in Kwanlin – Whitehorse, Yukon. Sean’s current role is Immersion Manager at the Yukon Native Language Centre to support Language Revitalization in Yukon First Nations communities. Sean was fortunate to gain teachings at an early age to understand his First Nation culture and pre-history in balance with his western education.  Climate change has been one of Sean’s personal passions to understand how we can learn from history and adopt areas of cultural knowledge to develop the Yukon’s climate change plan going forward for all of our diverse, beautiful people that live in communities across the Yukon. 

Sruthee Govindaraj

Affiliation: Core Geoscience Services Inc.

Sruthee Govindaraj is an Environmental Scientist at Core Geoscience Services Inc., based in Whitehorse, on the Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta'an Kwäch'än Council. Sruthee’s background is in contaminated sites, research and development, and climate change and health policy. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa in Biology, and a Climate Change Policy Post-Graduate Certificate from Yukon University. Sruthee was also one of the co-chairs of the first Yukon Youth Panel on Climate Change. 

Steve Roddick

Affiliation: Resilient North Consulting

Steve Roddick holds a Master's Degree in Public and International Affairs. He's worked across 4 different orders of government, and currently runs a small sustainability consulting firm called Resilient North. His work as a researcher and analyst has taken him to Ottawa, New Delhi and Dhaka, but since 2013 his professional focus has centred on understanding and responding to the impacts of climate change in the Yukon. As a Whitehorse City Councillor (2018 to 2021), Steve successfully championed a motion to declare a climate change emergency and is a strong advocate for ambitious municipal climate action.