Emissions per person are down, new Yukon climate report shows, but mining emissions still need target

The Yukon government says it's on its way to hitting its 2030 and 2050 climate goals, but it has work ahead to make those goals a reality.

That includes setting an emissions reduction target for the mining industry. Those emissions were left out of the environment report for 2021 released on Monday.

In the report, the territory boasts a few accomplishments, from a drop in greenhouse gas emissions per capita to more electric vehicles on the roads and the removal of plastic bags from circulation in the territory.

"We see emissions starting to move in the right direction. There is still significant action needed to meet our 45 per cent reduction target for 2030," said John Streicker, minister of energy, mines and resources, during a media briefing Monday afternoon.

"Wrestling climate change is a collaborative effort. Yukoners have already shown we can collectively make a significant impact in reducing our emissions. We'll need this ongoing support and effort to meet our targets from all Yukoners."

Emissions down, minus mining stats

It's the second iteration of the report, called Our Clean Future. The first one was released after three years of collaboration with Yukon First Nations, transboundary Indigenous groups and municipalities. It came about as a response to the global and local climate emergency, the report says.

The report details the territory's progress on its environmental goals, including 136 commitments outlined by the government. Yukon also completed its first territory-wide climate risk and resilience assessment, which covers topics like biodiversity, floods and fires and permafrost thaw.

The new report shows the Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 dropped 12 per cent below 2019 levels, though that was partially attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those emissions, calculated on a two-year delay, exclude emissions from mining activities.

Streicker said the government is trying to find ways to reach its emissions goals "while not affecting the Yukon's economic activity."

"So, how to decouple those two," he said. "That is really the whole purpose of the three of the four main goals of the plan."

Streicker said the territory is currently engaging with the public and the mining industry to decide the target for mining emissions reduction. Right now, the proposal is to reduce emissions by 45 per cent by 2030. The public engagement for that closes early October. Streicker said a target should be set by the end of the year.

Emissions overall up compared to 2010, but down per capita

When zoomed out further, the Yukon's emissions in 2020 were still up by three per cent compared to 2010 levels, the report shows.

Meanwhile, greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 per capita — or by person — were down slightly compared to a decade ago, at 17.5 tonnes of CO2 per person compared to 20 tonnes of CO2 per person.

"Which is a decrease, and that is what we're looking for," said Rebecca Turpin, the director of the Climate Change Secretariat, who presented the report. By comparison, she added that in Canada, "we are sixth in terms of per capita emissions."

The government said it anticipates this downward trend of per capita emissions to continue in the next 10 years.

Streicker said the goal is to get all emissions in the Yukon — including from mining activities — to be at zero by 2050.

'We take these challenges seriously'

The report also shows a doubling of electric vehicles in 2021 from 2020, going from 57 to 129. 

Environment Minister Nils Clarke said the Yukon government has fewer than 10 electric vehicles in its fleet, but that it is in a position to acquire 10 hybrid pickup trucks, which he said is "admittedly somewhat of a stopgap measure." He said the purchases would result in a fuel savings of between 25 and 30 per cent.

He said when it comes to transport trucks and mining equipment, electric vehicles are in the Yukon's "midterm" future.

"I would say within the window between perhaps 2025 and 2030," he said. "My impression speaking to Yukoners is that we Yukoners are prepared to be early adopters."

The report also said 95.7 per cent of the electricity on the Yukon's main grid was generated from renewable sources in 2021.

Clarke said the government is working to better understand the climate challenges in the Yukon so that it can plan for the impacts of climate change.

"We know that the Yukon's climate is changing, affecting the landscape we live in and the places we call home. Seeing the impact this has on Yukoners, through challenging snowpack and flood risks to wildfires and escarpments slides in our communities," he said.

"I want you guys to know that we take these challenges seriously."