The provinces and territories are failing to adequately address one of the SA国际影视传媒渄efining challenges of our time,SA国际影视传媒� say Canada's auditors general, and the NWT is no exception.

In a collaborative report released Tuesday titled Perspectives on Climate Change Action in Canada, the auditors general state that most governments in Canada are SA国际影视传媒渘ot on trackSA国际影视传媒� to meet their 2020 or their 2030 commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nor are they prepared for the impacts of climate change.

The report was compiled by nine provincial auditors, excluding Quebec's, and the federal auditor who is responsible for the territories.

SA国际影视传媒淎s a whole, Canadian jurisdictions are not doing great, but even compared to them, the NWT is not doing very well,SA国际影视传媒� Bob Bromley, a spokesperson for Alternatives North, said Wednesday after reviewing the report.

No province or territory scored perfect marks.

The NWT fared poorly in a review of its progress toward reducing emissions SA国际影视传媒� indeed the territory's 2020 emissions goals allow for an increase in harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The auditors criticized the Department of Infrastructure for inconsistent maintenance of buildings and roads affected by permafrost degradation.

They also found that the GNWT had not yet done a comprehensive assessment of the risks posed by climate change, nor did it have a plan to adapt to the negative impacts of a warming North, SA国际影视传媒渄espite long-standing commitments to developing one.SA国际影视传媒�

In each of the participating provinces and territories, the auditors looked at: emission reduction targets and the progress made toward meeting these; the risks and plans (or lack thereof) to respond to those risks; and whether governments were reporting to elected officials and the public in a timely and consistent manner.

SA国际影视传媒淯nfortunately for the NWT, we really didn't meet any of those sort of basic tests,SA国际影视传媒� Kevin O'Reilly, the MLA for Frame Lake, said Wednesday.

The GNWT is one of only three jurisdictions to have a region-specific emissions target for 2030. However, the territory's aim of reducing emissions to where they were in 2005 does not align with the the 2030 target set out in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which calls for emissions to be at least 30 per cent below 2005 levels.

The NWT signed on to the pan-Canadian framework in 2016.

SA国际影视传媒淭here does not seem to be appreciation for the magnitude of the issue we're facing here, and how this problem will affect every aspect of our lives,SA国际影视传媒� said Bromley.

The Department of Energy and Natural Resources reports that since the 1940s, the territory's surface temperature has risen by about two degrees Celsius, an increase that is about three times the global average.

The results - thawing permafrost, diminishing sea ice and erosion to the coastline, among others SA国际影视传媒� have implications for human health, Indigenous ways of life, water quality, wildlife and infrastructure.

Considering all this, the territorial government is developing a climate change strategy that it says takes into account commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the territory's dependence on fossil fuels and the high cost of living.

The final strategy is expected to be released this spring and was not part of the auditors general review.

A draft of the strategy has been released, but O'Reilly said it offers SA国际影视传媒渧ery little detailSA国际影视传媒� on how emissions reduction targets will be met.

Canada's auditor general released a report on climate change in the NWT last October, which informed the collaborative climate change action report released Tuesday.

That audit found that territorial departments were not taking adequate steps to adapt to climate change or to meet the GNWT's emission targets.

Specifically, it found that the department of Environment and Natural Resources, which is in charge of the climate change file, SA国际影视传媒渄id not fulfill its leadership role,SA国际影视传媒� did not identify climate change-related risks to the territory and was not providing the communities with easy access to climate change information.

Robert C. McLeod, the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.

Environment and Natural Resources spokesperson Meagan Wohlberg stated in an email that the GNWT is SA国际影视传媒渁ctively addressingSA国际影视传媒� the auditor general's recommendations through the climate change strategy and a separate energy strategy.

McLeod met with federal Environment and Climate Change minister Catherine McKenna this week. Cabinet spokesperson Shaun Dean said talks included SA国际影视传媒渙ngoing bilateral issues, like fulfilling the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 commitments under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change and the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 role in that.SA国际影视传媒�

O'Reilly said the NWT needs climate change legislation that spells out emissions goals and clearly defines departmental responsibilities in achieving those goals.

He noted that the territory's plan for carbon pricing SA国际影视传媒� possibly it's most effective tool for reducing emissions - remains uncertain.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have an opportunity to show leadership on this issue because (climate change) is impacting our part of Canada to a greater extent than many other parts, and our government really has not assumed that leadership role,SA国际影视传媒� said O'Reilly.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat's very disappointing and this auditors general report bears that out.SA国际影视传媒�