NAC Learners lead Climate Strike in Iqaluit

Iqaluit, Nunavut (September 30, 2019) - Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) is proud to have taken part in the Global Climate Strike, a global youth-led movement demanding action against climate change, which is now mobilizing in over 150 countries and thousands of regions, including Nunavut. NAC’s climate strike was one of the thousands of other similar events that happened around the world last week, with the bulk of protests taking place on Friday, September 27th.

The NAC Environmental Technology Program (ETP) learners led the Climate Strike in Iqaluit, from 2:30 - 4:00 pm, beginning with a march from the ETP building up to the main campus to rally other NAC learners and faculty. The Strike had full support from NAC’s Executive team and Faculty and encouraged Learners to be part of the activities.

This Global Climate Strike is part of the #FridaysForFuture movement, started by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. On August 20, 2018, the 15-year-old Greta Thunberg walked out of her classroom every day for three weeks to sit alone in front of the Swedish Parliament, demanding leaders start creating policies to combat climate change. As Thunberg shared her the details of her actions on social media, more and more youth around the world began following her lead and leaving school on Fridays to advocate for their rights to a better future on a sustainable planet.

Last Friday, September 27, Thunberg spoke at the Climate Strike in Montreal, at which an estimated 500,000 students and supporters rallied. As international attention moved to Canada following Thunberg’s speech, it is important to that youth across Canada feel empowered to get involved and influence their local politicians.

NAC’s learners’ initiatives, like today’s Climate Strike in Iqaluit, provide an important voice for the Arctic, addressing the concerns for Nunavut’s communities, the Arctic ecosystem, and Inuit knowledge as part of the Global Climate Movement.

On September 23, the United Nations held an Emergency Climate Summit in New York and released the latest climate report in which scientists predict the effects of climate change will be particularly dire for arctic regions, including Nunavut, due to rapidly melting sea ice. NAC learners represent the future leaders of our territory and our country, and their knowledge and activism will be crucial to building a sustainable future for both our arctic communities and the future of our planet.

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By Brigitte Bilodeau.