Friday February 2, 2007 – Ottawa, Ontario
The Inuit Circumpolar Council-Canada (ICC) and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), today responded to the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes 4th Assessment, Working Group 1 (IPCC-WG1 Report) in concluding that human activities are the cause of climate change.
The good news is that this highly credible report is now available to the world community, and
Canada’s Environment Minister John Baird has acknowledged the report in Paris, and has stated it is time
to address climate change policy,” said ITK President Mary Simon. The bad news is that the report
confirms that climate change is enormous in scope, verifiable, and requires unprecedented international
intervention and collaboration. Inuit have long known that the Arctic climate has been changing and that
the rate of change is accelerating. The Arctic is accepted as a barometer of worldwide climate change.”
The IPCC-WG1 Report reinforces, and expands upon, the stark conclusions made almost three
years ago in the report of the multi-national Arctic Council entitled Arctic Climate Impact Assessment
(ACIA Report). When released in November 2004, its conclusions shocked many people, and gained
global attention. The impacts of climate change on the Arctic will have repercussions for the rest of the
planet from the small island states to continental Africa.
Duane Smith, President of ICC-Canada added that, Canada must recognize the geopolitical
importance of the Arctic in climate change, develop and pursue a strong northern foreign policy. If we are
to see real change in the Arctic, China, Russia, India and the United States, as well as, Canada and other
nations, must reduce their CO2 emissions. It is noteworthy that China has recently applied for
membership in the Arctic Council. Now is the time to work multi-laterally for the global good. Canada can
be a world leader by making the Arctic and Inuit a central feature of comprehensive climate change
efforts. Inuit want to partner with Canada and work towards the next United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change meeting to regain our place as a global leader,” Smith added.
Inuit and all Canadians are facing serious decisions regarding the changing environment. As the
world awaits the conclusions of the Impact and Adaptations Report of IPCC Working Group 2, due in
April, ICC and ITK call upon the Government of Canada to learn from the previous attempt at a National
Adaptation Framework and commit the appropriate resources and effort required to leave a legacy for
the future.
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Source:
Corinne Gray
Executive Director
ICC Canada
Stephen Hendrie
Communications Director
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Ph: 613.563.2642 Cell: 613.277.3178
cgray@inuitcircumpolar.com hendrie@itk.ca