Yukon

Targets and Goals

• Yukon government will meet the following emission reduction targets in its internal operations: cap greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2010, reduce GHG emissions by 20% by 2015 and become carbon neutral by 2020.
• Monitor Yukon government operations GHG emissions by reporting through The Climate Registry and establishing a Yukon-wide emissions target by 2011.

Top Actions

Energy Efficiency

• The Energy Strategy for Yukon (released January 2009) contains principles to guide decision-making and proposes goals, long-term strategies and short-term action for conserving energy and using it more efficiently; increasing the supply and use of renewable energy; meeting Yukons current and future electricity needs; and managing responsible oil and gas development. A priority action under the Energy Strategy for Yukon is to increase energy efficiency in Yukon by 20% by 2020.
• The Energy Solutions Centre offers the Good Energy Program that provides rebates for eligible energy efficient products purchased between April 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010. Eligible high efficiency products include: home appliances (refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers and dish washers), heating appliances (wood stoves/furnaces/boilers, heat recovery ventilators, high efficient oil furnaces/boilers, etc), water heaters (solar and drain water heat recovery systems), and CARB 3 star-rated outboard motors.
• The Yukon Housing Corporation offers a Home Repair Program which provides homeowners with an opportunity to borrow up to CAD$35,000 (US$33,000) to carry out necessary repairs and upgrade the energy efficiency of their principle residence at a reduced interest rate. Yukon Housing Corporationalso has new SuperGreen energy efficiency innovative building techniques and designs to drastically improve the overall efficiency on new homes reducing heating costs by as much as 80% when compared to a usual 2x6 wall Yukon house.

Renewable Energy

• The Yukon government supports a shift toward cleaner, renewable sources of energy for the territory. Already an estimated 17% of the total energy used in Yukon comes from renewable sources. This includes 1,069 terajoules of electricity produced by hydro and wind as well as an estimated 400 terajoules of wood fuel that is used for home heating.
• The Yukon is committed to upgrading hydroelectricity infrastructure and extending the electrical grid to provide additional green energy. In August 2009, the governments of Canada and Yukon announced they will be working together to upgrade the Mayo B hydro generation facility as well as complete Phase 2 of the Carmacks-Stewart transmission line. This will reduce future GHG emissions from energy production by up to 25,000 tonnes per year. Currently, the Mayo-Dawson transmission line continues to displace 10,000 tonnes of GHG emissions each year.
• In addition, Phase 1 of the Carmacks to Stewart Crossing Transmission Line was completed in fall 2008 and will continue to displace GHG emissions by 23,000 tonnes per year. Finally, CAD$5 million (US4.8 million) was allocated to install a third hydro turbine at the Aishihik hydro electric plant. This addition will displace future GHG emissions by up to 3,800 tonnes a year.
• In 2008, a hybrid, solar and wind renewable energy demonstration project was refurbished at Yukon College and put on public display. This project included a partnership between the Yukon government, the Northern Research Institute and the Yukon College, and is complemented by 4 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the roof of the main Yukon government Administration Building in February 2009.

Sustainable Land Use

• In 2009, the governments of Canada and Yukon signed off on an almost CAD$5 million (US$4.8 million) investment to give Yukon farmers stable, bankable programs and to make key investments in innovation and marketing as part of the Growing Forward initiative. This agreement will target the needs and priorities of Yukon farmers, and work with them to increase the production of Yukon-grown food.
• In April 2009, Environment Yukon received funding from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada to undertake a Yukon Forest Health Risk Assessment. This project will identify adaptation opportunities and challenges for Yukons forest tree species as well as inform strategic planning, policy development and management practices within the forest sector, ensuring the sustainable management of forest ecosystems.
• Yukon is also working closely with First Nations to plan three new territorial parks, Kusawa Territorial Park, Agay Mene Territorial Park, and Asi Keyi Territorial Park. These new additions are coming about through First Nation settlement agreements.

Waste Management

• Under the Yukon governments Waste Reduction and Recycling Initiative, Yukon schools will be able to access a CAD$75,000 (US$71,500) School Grant Program. Its goal is to provide incentives for youth to recycle, reuse and compost.
• Announced in May 2009, Yukon government will provide up to CAD$320,000 (US$305,000) to Raven Recycling, a non-profit society, to ensure that they can continue to offer Yukoners a comprehensive recycling and processing service. Additional initiatives include increased core funding for registered depots in Yukon communities to handle the recycling of refundable materials (e.g. beverage containers).

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