Tips

  • Monitor your energy use
  • Install a drain water heat recovery system
  • Install solar panels, a solar water heating system, or a wood pellet boiler
  • Hang your laundry to dry instead of using the dryer
  • Switch to energy-efficient appliances (look for the ENERGY STAR label)
  • Wash your clothes in cold water
  • Use timers or motion sensors to control outdoor lighting
  • Switch light fixtures to LED lightbulbs
  • Use public transit, walk, ski, skate, cycle or carpool instead of driving solo
  • Use an automated vehicle plug-in controller or timer for your car’s block heater or battery blanket
  • Eat more plant-based foods like whole grains, beans, nuts, and lentils
  • Grow your own food in your home, yard, or balcony
  • Buy locally sourced food
  • Compost food and organic waste

Responsibility for the environment is shared among the Federal government, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the City of Yellowknife.

See below for information on how this responsibility is shared.

 

Federal Government

  • Fisheries, navigation and shipping (including emissions, sewage, oil and water discharges) in oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams
  • Emissions from aviation and interprovincial transportation
  • The release of toxic substances (e.g., mercury, asbestos, and six GHGs)
  • Interprovincial movement of hazardous materials
  • Management of federal contaminated sites within the territory

GNWT

  • Lead on climate change, land use and sustainability policy, and conserved and protected areas
  • Emissions from industries and activities within the GNWT’s jurisdiction
  • Onshore waters, wildlife, forests, air, and public land
  • Development impacts on forests, water (including drinking water), wildlife, and wildlife habitat
  • Managing human-wildlife conflicts
  • Wildfire monitoring, management, and suppression (e.g., regional and territorial fire bans)
  • Transboundary water agreements
  • Water licensing decisions
  • Waste reduction policies and programs and monitoring of waste management facilities and operators

City of Yellowknife

  • Water treatment and monitoring
  • Wastewater, storm water, and sewage lagoons
  • Waste management (landfill, recycling, and composting)
  • Land use and planning within the City
  • Municipal bylaws (e.g., zoning bylaw, building bylaw, and permitting requirements)
  • Wildfire monitoring and management within the City (e.g., local fire bans and burning permits for fires and fireworks within the City, etc.)
  • Operation, procurement, asset management of City-owned land and facilities and City services and activities