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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Arctic Energy Alliance is urging the City of Yellowknife to become 100 per cent carbon-neutral by 2014.

It's a reasonable goal, said Andrew Robinson, executive director of Arctic Energy Alliance, considering the city's pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by that same year is almost five years ahead of schedule.

Andrew Robinson, executive director of Arctic Energy Alliance, challenged the City of Yellowknife to become carbon-neutral by 2014. Here he holds a bunch of carbon-neutral stickers, given to those who've made a carbon-neutral pledg - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

He challenged city councillors and administration to take on the task at the Priorities, Policies and Budget Committee meeting on Nov. 24.

"We are finding consistently this isn't so hard," he said.

"Setting the target now ... gives extra oomph to all these projects," he added.

Robinson used Arctic Energy Alliance as an example, stating the organization became carbon neutral in March.

Before going neutral, the group produced 42 tonnes annually of carbon emissions from 78,500 km of air travel, 12,000 km of driving and about 7,350 litres of heating fuel for their office.

The group's consumption was rendered neutral by the purchase of $1,450 worth of carbon offset credits, which helped fund a wind farm in Madagascar.

If the wind farm "didn't have that money from those credits, the wind park wouldn't have happened," said Robinson.

And, considering Arctic Energy's $1.2-million budget, $1,450 "isn't that much," he added.

In comparison, the city emits about 4,000 tonnes of carbon annually. If it wanted to offset its emissions now, it would have to pay $165,000.

However, Robinson said a vigorous implementation of a carbon reduction program now would ensure the city wouldn't pay nearly so much by 2014.

While Coun. Paul Falvo said a wind farm in Madagascar is "all well and good," he asked Robinson whether credits could go towards local - or at least Canadian - projects.

Robinson answered such projects were harder to find because the concept behind legitimate carbon credits is funding energy-friendly projects which would otherwise be impossible.

Coun. Kevin Kennedy added finding legitimate carbon offsets for projects within Canada can be complex - he has tried.

The councillor said he and his family are carbon neutral. Because Canada is a comparatively wealthy country, he added, it is harder to find energy-friendly projects that require funds generated by carbon offsets.

We "don't have the excuse to say 'no, we wouldn't otherwise be doing it,'" he said.

Moreover, said Robinson, "$40 a tonne gets you a lot in Madagascar. It doesn't get you a lot here."