INUVIK - Russell Noksana and Pierre Marchand are doing their part to try to help the town and its residents combat climate change.

From left, Russell Noksana and Pierre Marchand are hoping to work together with the town to come up with initiatives that will encourage residents to be more environmentally conscious. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"We need the mayor involved to say OK, we want to make a difference here and there's basic things they can do as leaders in the town to promote environmentally friendly projects," said Marchand. "We want to involve them and inform them."

Both residents also share a connection to the environment through their work, Marchand is a resource management and public safety specialist with Parks Canada. Noksana, who was born and raised in Tuktoyaktuk, is in charge of Inuvik's Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA) branch, which is is part of a not-for-profit society that works with communities to reduce costs and environmental impacts of energy and utility services in the Northwest Territories.

Marchand found out about Noksana and the work he does through people he had met while attending the Young Leaders' Summit on Northern Climate Change held here in August and the Powershift Conference in Ottawa last month, which involved youth uniting from across Canada to fight climate change.

Just last week the two met and agreed to participate in a town committee, including senior administrative officer Sara Brown and councillor Terry Halifax. The committee, which met last Tuesday, is currently working on a new community energy and sustainability plan.

Noksana said he's hoping the committee will work toward establishing town policies centring on climate change, energy conservation, clean energy initiatives and promoting sustainable development. He said he would also like to see participation from the Gwich'in Tribal Council and Inuvialuit Regiomnal Corporation.

Noksana said there's money available through AEA that can help fund related projects.

Aside from encouraging building energy efficient homes, he said he'd like to encourage smaller initiatives in the community, such as walk to work days and enforcing no idling zones.

"We have to raise awareness and get people engaged," he said

Noksana said he's driven by the effects that climate change has had on the land around him.

"You see the landslides along the Mackenzie River," he said. "You see the shore erosions on the coast line where I grew up in Tuktoyaktuk, creek beds are drying out. It's unbelievable.

"We have to make a difference in the community.

"Once we make a difference in our community and people see it and people see it then other communities will follow."