The Pembina Institute envisions a Northern Canada where people thrive in a healthy environment, and where people's needs are met in a way that protects the earth's living systems; ensures clean air, land and water; prevents dangerous climate change; and provides for safe and just communities. The Pembina Institute is working to make this vision a reality by advancing sustainable energy solutions through innovative research, education, consulting and advocacy. For more information, please visit Our Work.
Below are some of our recent Northern Canada initiatives.
Northern Lifeblood
The Mackenzie River Basin has sustained people and an abundance of flora and fauna for millennia — long before this land was called a country, let alone split into provinces and territories. Today, its rivers and streams cross several political boundaries, covering the northern half of Alberta, parts of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and the Yukon, and most of the Northwest Territories.
Northern Lifeblood looks closely at the risks posed by upstream oil sands development and points to ways northern leaders can take action to protect the Mackenzie River Basin.
Download the report.
Download the four-page fact sheet.
Defending the North
The Mackenzie Gas Project has the potential to open the doors for the biggest industrial development Canada's Arctic has ever seen. A Joint Review Panel was appointed to consider both the opportunities and the risks associated with the project. The panel's comprehensive report, issued in December 2009, included 176 recommendations designed to ensure that the project proceeds in a way that will be positive for the North. The panel emphasized that if its recommendations are not implemented, "the project's impact on the environment would likely be significant and adverse."
Now the fate of the project and the panel's carefully crafted recommendations rest with the National Energy Board, the body responsible for determining if the project is in the public interest. The National Energy Board will begin hearings into the project on April 12 and is expected to give its final decision on whether the project should go ahead in September.
For more information about the panel's findings and the National Energy Board's response, read the Pembina Institute's new fact sheet, "Defending the North."
At a Crossroads
Achieving a Win-Win From Oil and Gas Developments in the Northwest Territories
The Canadian government, as a resource manager for the Northwest Territories' oil and gas resources, is at a crossroads — it has to decide how to manage the development of the oil and gas resources in the territory. A new discussion paper by the Pembina Institute, At a Crossroads: Achieving a Win-Win From Oil and Gas Developments in the Northwest Territories, makes the case for a win-win development scenario. A win-win development scenario would allow companies to earn fair returns on their investments while providing maximum benefit for resource owners today and in the future. To accomplish the win-win, the federal government needs to review and reform royalty rates and the bidding process for awarding oil and gas leases to capture maximum revenue from oil and gas developments. At the same time, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) needs to take advantage of available tax options to obtain revenue for oil and gas resource owners in the territory.
Read an overview // read the fact sheet // read the report.
Young Leaders Issue Declaration on Climate Change
On August 20, 60 young Canadians issued a declaration calling for action on northern climate change. The declaration highlights four areas of concern about the progress of climate change issues and upcoming negotiations. Read the press release and the Declaration of the Young Leaders' Summit on Northern Climate Change to learn more.
The declaration is the 
culmination of the Young Leaders' Summit on Northern Climate Change, which took place from August 17 to 20 in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. The summit empowered young leaders to tackle the greatest challenge facing the planet—climate change. For more information, visit www.climateleaders.ca and read the final summit report.
The Waters That Bind Us
Protecting Water Resources North of the Oil Sands
A report by the Pembina Institute, The Waters That Bind Us: Transboundary Implications of Oil Sands Development, has found that current water management practices are not sufficient to protect water in northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories from the impacts of oil sands development. Oil sands development uses large quantities of freshwater and produces large amounts of toxic waste, posing a risk to water quality and quantity both locally and downstream.
The report includes a number of recommendations for improving water management and minimizing risks to water, including the completion of a transboundary water agreement between Alberta and the Northwest Territories and the suspension of new oil sands lease sales and approvals until stronger environmental rules protecting water are in place.
Read the press release // fact sheet // full report.
