Studies reveal that Aboriginal people, people who live in the North and other people whose incomes rely on the land, water and other natural resources, are more affected by climate change.  For this reason, the current and future effects of climate change must be closely monitored and addressed in Aboriginal and northern communities in order to increase their resilience and adaptive capacities to the changing climate.

Due to their cold, northern locations, many northern and Aboriginal communities are high consumers of energy which can contribute to climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions.  Therefore, many northern and Aboriginal communities are looking for ways to reduce their energy consumption and develop clean, renewable forms of energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change.

Sharing Knowledge and Tools

As part of Canada's climate change strategy, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) is working with Aboriginal and northern communities, governments, utilities and non-profit organizations to build knowledge, capacity and tools to adapt to the realities of a changing climate and to develop and implement energy projects which can help mitigate climate change through greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada is committed to the long-term sustainability of Aboriginal and northern communities and will continue working to address both short-term and long-term climate change adaptation and energy-related issues in Aboriginal and northern communities across Canada.

Sharing Knowledge for a Better Future: Adaptation and Clean Energy Experiences in a Changing Environment

Past Climate Change Programs

• The Aboriginal and Northern Climate Change Program (ANCCP) operated from 2001 until 2003.
• The Aboriginal and Northern Community Action Program (ANCAP) operated from 2003 until 2007.

Current Climate Change Programs

1. Climate Change Adaptation Program
2. ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities

What Information is Available?

In the sidebar on the right side of this page, you will find information on how climate change is impacting Aboriginal and northern communities and information about AANDC’s Climate Change Adaptation Program which is helping these communities plan and adapt to climate change.

You will also find information about the ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities Program that is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change through the funding of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in Aboriginal and northern communities.

This website also has links to related climate change adaptation and energy initiatives, tools for communities and success stories about communities that are adapting to climate change and implementing energy projects.

Mailing Address:
AANDC Climate Change Program
10 Wellington Street
25 Eddy Street, 10th floor
Gatineau, QC  K1A 0H4