Iqaluit councillor strikes back at global warming

The devastating effects of global warming are already being felt in Nunavut, according to many scientists and one Iqaluit politician.

Councillor Keith Irving says it’s time the city took major action to reduce its emission of greenhouse gases, given that the consequences of global warming will strike the Arctic first.

“If we are going to ask citizens of the world to take action to protect our part of the world we need to do our part as well,” Irving said after attending a municipal leaders’ forum on implementing the Kyoto Protocol from April 27 to 29.

Municipalities control or have an impact on about 50 per cent of the greenhouse gases created in Canada, either directly or indirectly.

But Iqaluit lacks the staff resources to put clean measures in place, so Irving says the federal government needs to step in and help.

“Iqaluit, with all the stresses and strains on it, capacity building probably remains the biggest single issue. We need the federal government to take action to support municipalities doing this work,” Irving said.

“Right now, the city has a proposal in for $100,000 to give us the staff capacity we need to begin to take some leadership on this issue.”

The funds can’t come quickly enough, as Irving says his own experiences have shown him that global warming is already taking its toll on the local environment.

Early thaws and stories about hunters going through ice are signs that the predictions are coming true, Irving said.

“When I’m out dog teaming and see birds that shouldn’t be here [at that time of year] that to me is evidence that something is changing.”

Whereas many researchers and scientists have predicted that the Canadian Arctic will be the first to see the effects of climate change, Irving believes it will also be the most affected by the economic benefits of fighting global warming.

As more efficient ways of using and producing energy are discovered and implemented, costs to consumers will decrease along with greenhouse gas emissions. Nunavummiut pay some of the highest heating bills in Canada, so they will experience the greatest savings by decreasing the cost of energy.

“If we can reduce energy consumption of a building by 20 or 50 per cent, that’s a lot more money in our pocket than if we were sitting in the South.

Fleet management programs, anti-idling campaigns and more energy-efficient buildings are the type of initiatives Irving believes will result in the greatest pollution reduction.

It may prove difficult to change people’s way of life by eliminating the use of high-emission off-road equipment like snowmobiles and four-wheelers, but Irving is optimistic.

He’s hopeful that more energy-efficient off-roading equipment, such as the four-cylinder snowmobile, will grow in popularity. Government and industry need to help refine those systems and bring the cost of those machines down, he added.

Many hunters and boat-users have already moved to four-stroke engines because of the fuel efficiency and cleaner burn, Irving noted.

As an architect, Irving is currently vying for a $60,000 federal grant to employ an energy consultant to perform a rigorous study on how to decrease energy consumption by 25 per cent. The Yukon recently built a school using passive solar and mechanical ventilation techniques to cut their costs significantly.

Iqaluit has already begun the process of reducing energy consumption with its current water recycling pilot program. The city hopes the project will decrease water use, truck service and the emissions associated with driving trucks out to Apex.

Last November, Iqaluit became the 100th member of the Partners in Climate Protection program, committing the city to take part in a five-step program which sets a community target for greenhouse gas reduction.

“It’s not an easy task to change peoples’ behaviours but it can be done,” Irving insisted.

“We changed the behaviour of drunk-drivers who used to careen off our roads 20 years ago.”