Cambridge Bay (Jul 03/06) - For Michael Jancke, a discussion about what to do with dead animal carcasses will lead him all the way to Paris.

Jancke is one of six Canadian delegates headed to the French capital in October for the Youth Eco-parliament, where 100 students from 15 countries will present projects to European legislators.

Grade 10 students at Kiilinik school in Cambridge Bay began with talking about how to dispose of dead dogs and wildlife. Their work moved onto ways to control sewage and oil leaks and finally to the potential ecological impacts of regular shipping through the Northwest Passage.

As climate change causes Arctic sea ice to melt, the Northwest Passage becomes increasingly attractive to companies looking to move freight between Europe, North America and Asia. That prospect has many Northerners worried about the impact of spills and accidents on traditional ways of life.

Jancke and his classmates are worried, too.

"We saw a need to protect our environment in a way that would successfully promote guarded development while maintaining a traditional landscape," Jancke said.

"People really listened to us. We made them aware of the problem and the steps we proposed to resolve it."

The students propose a military station near the entrance to the Northwest Passage to collect tolls and ensure ships passing through are registered and have insurance.

Jancke's classmates chose him to represent Kiilinik in the Canadian delegation.

"(They chose me) because I'm confident and can go in front of big crowds and speak," he said.

This year's eco-parliament is the first that will include a country outside of Europe.

"We are very proud it is Canada," said Damian Bassett, President of Corporations Sharing Responsibility, the group sponsoring the trip.

"Their experience with the eco-parliament could have an impact on how they think about and act on environmental issues for the rest of their lives."

And while the 10-day trip will include a tour of Paris, "most of it's meetings," said Jancke.

But he's excited all the same, since it's his first trip outside of Canada.

"I think it's going to be fun to see new things.