Nunavut premier has climate commitment hope

Nunavut Premier Eva Aariak says she is not giving up hope that Canada will make a strong commitment to dealing with climate change at a United Nations conference next month in Copenhagen.

Aariak responded Monday to recent comments made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who said it was unrealisticto expectworld leaders meeting in Copenhagen to reach a full agreement on deep cutsin greenhouse gas emissions.

Aariak said she plans to tell leaders about how the changing climate is already affecting Inuit lifestyles and hunting methods, as well as voice her concerns to the federal government.

"I think it's very important for us to be involved at all levels and keep pushing for the ultimate ideal decision to deal with the climate change issues," Aariak told CBC News.

The premier acknowledged recent criticism from Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada president Duane Smith, who said the three northern territories are not being vocal enough with their climate change concerns.

Smith has also said the territories are not acting quickly enough to introduce greener alternatives to burning fossil fuels.

But Aariak said Nunavut is making progress, even with limited resources.

"We can only go so far in trying to address our own climate change issues," she said.

"It's unfortunate that we still very much use fossil fuels to heat our homes, to run our cars, you know, everything else. But Nunavut is very much engaged in looking at alternative ways in the future in utilizing alternative energy sources such as wind, hydro and whatnot."

Nunavut's long-awaited climate change adaptation plan has yet to be completed, which government officials acknowledge is taking time, due to a long consultation process.

"Any document that goes through government has to have the proper consultation period," said Earle Badaloo, the territory's assistant deputy environment minister.

Badaloo said there is currently a draft version of the plan, and the final version could be done by the end of this month.