Climate change in Yukon

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Climate change in Yukon affects various environments and industries.

Annual greenhouse gas emissions increased by 6% between 2010 and 2022, when excluding the mining industry.^[1] Per capita emissions decreased by 12% during this time period, when excluding the mining industry.^[1] Total annual emissions increased by 24% between 2009 and 2019.^[2]

When emissions from the mining industry are included, total emissions increased by 10% between 2010 and 2022.^[1]

Impacts of climate change

Precipitation

Precipitation would increase by between 13% and 17% over the 50 years from 2022 and 2072.^[3]

Snow cover

Snow cover decreased between 5% and 10% for each decade between 1981 and 2021, and this would be set to continue.^[4]

Response

Policies

The Yukon government has considered subsidizing the mining industry to make the investments to reduce emissions.^[5]

The Yukon government and the Canadian federal government funded residents installing heat pumps.^[6] The program was paused due to high demand.^[7]

Grid Connect Project

The Canadian federal government made $40,000,000 for connecting Yukon to the North American power grid and infrastructure for mining for "critical minerals".^[8] Previously the Premier of Yukon had suggested that $60,000,000 would be necessary for investing in the power-grid connection.^[9] The territory had previously struggled with matching its building of infrastructure to its population growth.^[10]

Legislation

Clean Energy Act

Clean Energy Act
Legislative Assembly of Yukon
Citation	SY 2022, c 14
Assented to	2022-11-16
Legislative history
Bill citation	Bill 17 of 2022
Introduced by	John Streicker
First reading	2022-10-11
Second reading	2022-10-13
Third reading	2022-11-27
Keywords
emissions targets, electric vehicles targets
Status: In force (amended)

At the time of the bill passing, Yukon had just experienced a historic wildfire season.^[11]

For non-mining sector emissions the Act commits the province to achieving emissions reductions corresponding to:^[12]

45 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030
net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Act also commits the territory to achieving a reduction of 45% in mining emissions by 2035 compared to 2010 levels.^[12]

References

1 2 3 Greene, Julien (2024-11-13). "Yukon gov't again reports emissions down per resident, while total emissions continue to climb". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2024-11-13. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ Lach-Aidelbaum, Maya (2021-12-03). "Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions increased 24% in past decade, report finds". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ Greene, Julien (2022-10-16). "Climate change could significantly affect Yukon's landscape — and people — in 50 years, report states". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ "Climate change affecting northern Canada faster than rest of the country, report says". Yukon News. 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ Greene, Julien (2024-06-04). "Yukon gov't considers subsidies for mining companies to reduce emissions". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ Stockton, Talar (2024-12-21). "Yukon and Ottawa team up to bring heat pumps to Yukon homes". Yukon News. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ Howarth, Jake (2025-01-08). "Yukon government pauses affordable heat pump program due to high demand". Yukon News. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ "Infrastructure funding to unlock critical minerals development in the Yukon". Mining Weekly. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ "Yukon premier calls for 'generational investment' in power-grid connection". CBC News. 2024-06-11. Archived from the original on 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ "Feds put up $40M for study on Yukon connection to wider electrical grid". CBC News. 2024-09-21. Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
↑ Ho, Joseph (2022-10-05). "As Yukon MLAs return to Legislative Assembly, questions linger about the future after Sandy Silver". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
1 2 "Yukon's emissions 10% higher than 2010 but growing slower than population, economy". Yukon News. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2025-03-10.

v t e Climate change in Canada
Climate change
Measurement and attribution	Temperature in Canada Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences British Columbia Shore Station Oceanographic Program CCCma ArcticNet CBM-CFS3
Politics and mitigation	Carbon pricing in Canada British Columbia carbon tax Quebec carbon tax Climate Change and Emissions Management Amendment Act Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act Western Climate Initiative Canada and the Kyoto Protocol Climate Change Action Plan 2001 Climate Change Accountability Act Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord The Climate Registry Renewable energy in Canada Assisted migration of forests Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Energy Probe Energy policy of Canada "Green shift" (2008 federal election) Pan-Canadian Framework
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Effects of climate change	Drought in Canada Weather extremes in Canada Retreat of glaciers List of glaciers in Canada Sea level rise Coastal erosion Effects of climate change on biomes Extinction risk (e.g. Polar bear) Invasive species (e.g. Mountain pine beetle)
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