Climate adaptation key for Yukon delegation at COP21

Yukon's delegation to the UN climate conference in Paris will be there to press two main points climate change adaptation must be addressed, and "sub-national" governments have a key role to play in implementing any agreements.

"Our main purposeis to make sure that our interests are addressed, met, and that when it comes to implementation, we have a role," said Andrea Buckley, Yukon's assistant deputy minister of intergovernmental relations, and part of the COP21 delegation.

She also saysadaptation strategies are "very key" for Yukon as important as any plan to try to mitigate climate change.

BuckleysaysYukon's so-called "super-delegate", representing the territory'sclimate change secretariat, is already in Paris. Eight more people from Yukon, including Buckley and Premier DarrellPasloski,will fly there later this week.

Buckley saysthere will be lots todo, even outsidethe main negotiations.

"There's 50,000 people there and 50,000are not involved in negotiations, obviously," Buckley said. "There's a massive network of what they refer to as 'side events'. So every moment of every day, there's something happening."

"There's a 300 page document of side event options," she said.

Premier's role after Paris

Buckley saysPasloskiwill be busyparticipating in a number of meetings and presentations. She saysthe premier will also have an important role to play after Paris, as well, as he takes over as chair of the Council of the Federation.

"Because of the Prime Minister's commitment and request of the 13 premiers to be involved in the development of Canada's plan for climate change, it'll be his responsibility down the road tocoordinate those premiers and make sure that happens," Buckley said.

The Yukon delegation in Paris will also include NDP leader Liz Hanson, Liberal leader Sandy Silver, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Ruth Massie, a youth delegate, the premier's chief of staffand anenvironment department official.