Community Action Plan for Iqaluit

In response to climate change concerns and growing population pressure, the City of Iqaluit is undertaking the community component of Milestones 1, 2 and 3 of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program. The population, expected to double by the year 2022, is straining the existing infrastructure as the demand for housing, energy, water, and treatment and disposal of waste increases. The planning study will conduct a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory, set a reduction target, and develop a community action plan to reduce GHG emission levels. The resulting local action plan will focus on programs to reduce energy and resource consumption in residential, commercial and industrial buildings, and in vehicles. Accordingly, it will include initiatives to reduce potable water consumption, energy consumption, and waste going to landfill. It will also explore options for supplying a portion of the community’s energy requirements from renewable sources. Implementation is expected to reduce community GHG emissions by 5,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by 2017. It will also result in the conservation of non-renewable resources and improved local air quality. The community action plan will provide valuable information and recommendations pertinent to Canada’s northern communities, and has potential to influence other arctic communities to take similar action.