NUNAVUT - Nunavut needs to have its say at the global gathering on climate change in Copenhagen, says Environment Minister Dan Shewchuk.

"We cannot miss a world stage like this to inform people of the challenge that we have in climate change," he said.

A contingent from Nunavut is flying to Copenhagen to take part in the 193-country conference. It is hoped that during the conference an agreement on climate change following 2012 - the target year to meet the Kyoto Protocol - will be reached.

There will be seven people in the Nunavut delegate, including Premier Eva Aariak, Shewchuk, Deputy Minister of Environment Simon Awa and Energy Secretariat Dave Wright. The total budget for the group's trip to Copenhagen is $70,000 according to Emily Woods, Aariak's press secretary.

The NWT is also sending eight people - five MLAs and three government staff, at a projected cost of $86,000.

Alaska is sending one person, Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner Larry Hartig.

It's worth the money for Nunavut representatives to attend, said Aariak and Shewchuk.

"I think it's a very, very good investment into the future of Nunavut. It's very, very worthwhile," said Shewchuk of the trip's cost.

"I think our presence will be very important," said Aariak, in an interview in the legislative assembly building. "We are the territory in the Arctic that feels the impact the most. They need to hear it from us directly instead of just reading about it."

The effects of climate change are undeniable in Nunavut, Aariak said. "There are a lot of tangible things that are happening today that we need to adapt to and be able to deal with," she said. Elders are having trouble reading previously predictable weather and hunters have gone through ice believed to be trustworthy, she said.

At the conference, Nunavut will also be looking to pick up ideas from other countries on alternative energy, Shewchuk said. With nearly 100 per cent of the territory's energy provided by fossil fuels, exploring alternative energy sources is becoming more of a focus, he said.

Pilot projects are underway to collect hydro, wind and solar energy in the territory already, he said.

"Hopefully we can see some of these energy sources becoming realistic in the future," Shewchuk said.

He could not give a timeline but said that more information would come out with the completion of a Climate Adaptation Action Plan. Originally slated to be finalized last fall, Shewchuk said it should be finalized and tabled for cabinet approval before they leave for Copenhagen Dec. 11.

Aariak said that while Nunavut's local climate adaptation is ongoing, she is looking for concrete results for Canada at the conference.

"Hopefully we will come back with Canada's position on addressing the climate change to the level where we have an agreement, where Canada has an agreement," she said.