The Government of Yukon is sharing its fourth progress report on its climate strategy, Our Clean Future: A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy.
The Government of Yukon’s Our Clean Future: 2023 annual report shares progress on Our Clean Future goals and targets, including progress on adapting to climate change impacts and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Under Our Clean Future, the government is focused on ensuring the Yukon is highly resilient to climate change impacts by 2030. The Yukon is improving its climate resilience by focusing on emergency preparedness in Yukon communities and identifying risks to the Yukon’s infrastructure. As of the end of 2023:
- 12 emergency management plans were created;
- three Community Wildfire Protection Plans were completed, with five more underway;
- five community flood hazard maps were drafted to prepare for engagement in 2024;
- 12 Yukon communities have geohazard mapping completed to identify risks of permafrost thaw;
- flood risk has been analyzed for all transportation corridors in the Yukon; and
- all 14 Yukon communities have air quality monitoring devices to track air quality changes due to wildfire and biomass use.
The 2023 annual report also highlights the government’s progress on its greenhouse gas emissions target of 45 per cent below 2010 levels. The government continues to make progress on financially supporting Yukoners in the transition to cleaner transportation options and energy efficient homes and buildings. As of the end of 2023:
- 344 zero emission vehicles are registered in the territory and all road-connected communities are equipped with fast chargers;
- over 1,000 rebates for electric bikes have been provided;
- 172 high performance residential retrofits and 40 high performance commercial and institutional building energy retrofits have been completed;
- 165 smart heating devices are installed in homes and buildings. This includes heat pumps and electric thermal storage systems;
- two Yukon schools now have operating biomass systems (Elijah Smith Elementary School in Whitehorse and the Khàtìnas.àxh Community School in Teslin);
- 9.5 megawatts of renewable electricity have been installed through the Micro-Generation Program; and
- a new income tested heat pump rebate will be available soon. Currently, Yukon homeowners can receive up to 40 per cent of the cost of installing a heat pump up to a total of $8,000 but under the new program the new total will be $24,000.
The Yukon is making comprehensive progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While the annual report shows a rise in non-mining and overall emissions due to a post COVID-19 return to travel, there is continued decline in the Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions per capita and GDP. This means that as the Yukon’s population and economy are growing, there is not equivalent growth in emissions.
This is the fourth Our Clean Future annual report since the strategy was released in 2020. We continue to make meaningful progress toward ensuring the Yukon is highly resilient to climate change by investing in initiatives that support our ability to prepare for and adapt to climate change impacts such as fires and flooding, permafrost thaw and record heat, rain and snowfall. Thank you to the Yukon First Nations governments, municipalities, businesses, industry and Yukoners for your actions to address climate change.
Across the Yukon, we’re making progress toward lowering emissions by promoting cleaner, more affordable heating systems for homes and businesses. We continue to hear from Yukoners who want more renewable energy options, and we know that key industries like mining are eager for these resources as well. Through partnerships and community-driven initiatives, we’re installing clean energy solutions that support the Yukon's sustainable future. With each step, Our Clean Future is building momentum toward meeting Yukoners' needs and advancing our territory’s transition towards a clean future.
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The Government of Yukon produces Yukon-wide and government-specific greenhouse gas emissions reports as part of its annual reporting. The reports cover 2022 emissions because data is reported on a two-year time lag due to the length of time required for key data sources to be compiled and analyzed.
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The Clean Energy Act commits the government to reduce the Yukon’s non-mining greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent below 2010 levels by 2030 and the Yukon’s economy to reach net-zero by 2050.
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The 45 per cent emissions target excludes mining because mining emissions vary significantly year-to-year based on production levels and number of operating mines.
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In December 2023, the Government of Yukon announced a target to reduce the intensity of the mining sector's greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2035, using a baseline of 2023.
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Non-mining emissions in 2022 were six per cent higher than 2010 levels. Overall emissions in 2022 were 10 per cent higher than 2010 levels. This increase reflects a post COVID-19 return to travel and population growth in the territory.
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The Yukon’s per capita emissions in 2022 were 12 per cent lower than 2010 levels.
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In 2023, 91.1 per cent of electricity from the Yukon’s main grid was generated from renewable resources.
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While the Yukon overall emissions increased, there is continued decline in the Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions per capita and GDP. This means that while the Yukon’s population and economy are growing, there is no equivalent growth in emissions.
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In 2023, the government began using a Yukon-focused framework to measure and report on climate adaptation progress across five thematic areas of climate resilience, including disaster resilience, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, environment and the economy.
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Overall, 68 out of 178 Our Clean Future actions have been completed, another 105 are in progress or ongoing and five have not started yet.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
Kyle Nightingale
Communications, Environment
867-334-5922
kyle.nightingale@yukon.ca
Kate Erwin
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-3183
kate.erwin@yukon.ca