About us
Overview
The Northern Climate ExChange (NCE) opened in February 2000, at the Northern Research Institute of Yukon College. The centre was created in response to growing concern over the impacts of climate change on the land, life, and communities of northern Canada. The effects of climate change are projected to be greatest and to come most swiftly to the polar regions of the world, and there is growing evidence that the impacts of climate change are already being noticed in these regions.
While the focus of the work of the NCE is on activities within the Yukon, the NCE has received funding to undertake projects that are relevant across northern Canada. Funding for the centre is from the Government of Canada, Government of Yukon and Yukon College. The NCE receives direction and guidance from a Management Committee and Program Committees, and NCE Advisors.
Mission statement
The mission of the Northern Climate ExChange is to provide a credible independent source of information, develop shared understanding and promote action on climate change in northern Canada.
Approach
Work carried out by the NCE adheres to a number of guiding principles. The approach of the NCE:
- Recognizes that community participation in research and decision making is essential to long term resource, environmental and cultural sustainability in the North;
- Realizes the opportunity to strengthen links across northern Canada and among circumpolar nations through the exchange of knowledge and expertise; and
- Places appropriate emphasis on the collection of local information and scientific knowledge and perspectives in order to reflect northern insight and needs.
Goals
Programs, projects and initiatives carried out by the NCE are consistent with one or more of the following goals. The NCE Steering Committee developed these goals when the centre was established. The goals provide strategic direction to present and future activities of the NCE.
The goals of the NCE are to:
- Facilitate a clearer understanding of the impacts of climate change on the northern economy, environment and social fabric;
- Support the contributions of indigenous peoples to the climate change knowledge base by promoting the acceptance of traditional knowledge and aboriginal expertise;
- Increase science and research capacity among northerners and improve the links between scientific and local information;
- Promote local economic opportunities in the development of resource efficient technologies and practices that can contribute to mitigating climate change impacts;
- Foster partnerships and strengthen Canada's role as a scientific and political leader in the circumpolar North;
- Contribute to regional and national northern policy decisions and development of policy tools;
- Foster consensus-based decision making especially among northern communities;
- Facilitate the development of a circumpolar "trade route" to share knowledge, expertise and technology;
- Increase general awareness of the issue of climate change, its impacts on the north, and the global benefits of northern-based research;
- Advance a virtual framework for circumpolar climate change research alongside the University of the Arctic developments;
- Promote the establishment of a series of coordination points in the North to anchor climate change research activities; and
- Provide public education and outreach programs on climate change in the North.
Vision
The long-term vision of the NCE is to serve as a northern entry point into the study of climate change in the North by:
- Promoting and coordinating research and education on the impacts of, and adaptations to climate change in the North;
- Supporting the development of resource-efficient technologies and practices that can contribute to mitigating climate change and its impacts; and
- Facilitating the exchange of scientific and local information, technology, and expertise on climate change.
Governance
The NCE is governed by the policies and procedures of its host institution, and the terms and conditions of its funding agreements.
The NCE also receives guidance from two steering committees, the NCE Management Committee and NCE Program Committee, and NCE Advisors.
Host Institution
The NCE is a program of the Northern Research Institute at Yukon College.
Yukon College is the only public post-secondary institution in the Yukon, and is a board-governed entity established under Yukon's College Act. Yukon College is part of the University of the Arctic -- a burgeoning network of academic institutions and programs in the circumpolar North -- and is playing an important role in developing program structures to deliver higher education.
The Northern Research Institute (NRI) is the research unit of Yukon College. The NRI promotes, coordinates and undertakes research activities that both complement the College's goal of excellence in all areas of Yukon and Northern Studies, and fosters development of northern capabilities.
Funding Agreements
Yukon College holds four contribution agreements that fund NCE programs and activities. Three agreements are with different components of the Government of Canada, and one agreement is with the Government of Yukon's Department of Environment.
Management Committee
The NCE meets regularly with a Management Committee that is comprised of representatives from the Government of Yukon, Government of Canada and Yukon College. The Committee was established to provide direction to NCE and its staff.
Duties of the Management Committee are to:
- determine the annual financial and/or in-kind contribution of each partner by December 31 of each year;
- assist the NCE in accomplishing its goals and objectives;
- review and approve new program and project proposals developed by NCE;
- review and approve annual program evaluations prepared by NCE; and
- seek advice, guidance and support from NCE Program Committees and Stakeholders.
Program Committees
NCE Program Committees assemble around topics or projects on an as-needed basis. This ad-hoc committee structure was developed to provide an opportunity to discuss the NCE and its associated programs and to provide technical support and guidance to NCE staff on their projects and initiatives. More than one NCE Program Committee may exist at a time, each with a different focus or project.
Depending on the nature of the discussions, representation on NCE Program Committees is sought from a number of government and non-government departments and agencies.
NCE programs
Yukon Public Education and Outreach Hub
In 2001-2002, the NCE established the Yukon "Hub" of the national Public Education and Outreach Network. The NCE has pilot tested a number of PEO initiatives during its early operations. These pilot initiatives have taught us many lessons about what type of programs are desired by northerners and are successful in the North, and will assist us in joining the national network.
PEO Hubs were established in each province and territory to provide coordination and a focal point for regional climate change PEO activities, linked and guided at the national level by the Hub Pilot Advisory Team.
The primary focus of a PEO Hub was to help Canadians understand climate change, its impacts on communities and people's lives and the actions that can be taken to adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts.
This Environment Canada program is no longer running.
Public education and outreach is essential if Canadians are to understand what climate change means to them, and if they are to take action to reduce personal greenhouse gas emissions. Outreach is also critical in building public support for broader policies and actions that will be put in place as governments and businesses move to address climate change.
Staff
NCE staff coordinate a wide range of climate change programs and services for Yukon and northern Canada, and participate in the Yukon's climate change strategy. An introduction to NCE staff is provided below.
Jen Turner – NCE Coordinator
As Coordinator of the Northern Climate ExChange, Jen manages all NCE activities. Jen has over 10 years of experience in the environmental field, including four years coordinating the City of Whitehorse environmental programs and One-Tonne Challenge campaign. Before heading North, Jen spent several years as a Project Manager at ESG International, preparing proposals and environmental assessments for domestic and international energy developments, and she began her career conducting scientific research and championing environmental advocacy groups in southern Ontario. Jen has a Bachelor of Environmental Science and a Masters of Science degree from the University of Guelph.
Jen came to the Yukon seeking adventure, and found even more than she bargained for in the boundless opportunities for recreation and the awe-inspiring beauty of the territory. She's embraced the local traditions of mountain biking, skiing, canoeing and berry-picking.
Lewis Rifkind – Community Adaptation Project Manager
Lewis Rifkind coordinates our community adaptation projects. Three Yukon communities are involved in this process, which will see them develop capacity to deal with climate change.
Lewis has been active in Yukon environmental groups since 1992, working for a variety of environmental organizations in the Whitehorse area. These have included the Yukon Conservation Society where he was the Energy Coordinator, and a variety of positions at the Raven Recycling Society ranging from cashier to educator to administrator.
Lewis has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alberta. He is an avid biker, hiker and back-country skier. To round things off he is a weekly columnist in the Yukon News writing an environmentally-oriented column.
Sebastian Jones – Dawson Adaptation Coordinator
Sebastian Jones was born in England and soon realized the winters there left something to be desired. He made it to the Yukon while still a teenager and has never been disappointed with the climate. This might go some way towards explaining why, after some years as a Community Steward with the Yukon Fish & Wildlife Management Board, he took a position with the Northern Climate ExChange to help coordinate a climate change adaptation plan for Dawson City where he lives.
Sebastian has spent many years living in the bush, mostly down the river from Dawson but also on the Dempster. He passionately believes looking after our land and its inhabitants (including humans) should be our top priority. He lives in a small house in West Dawson with his partner Shelley and 16 dogs.