On Thursday, Yellowknife Mayor Ben Hendriksen is joining about 300 local leaders from across the country gathering to call for climate change action.
The Elbows Up for Climate summit began last year as a means to bring together local leaders.
Organizers said that the gathering is about finding ways to promote more environmentally sustainable development, calling on federal leaders to pursue “clean” nation-building projects, through climate change policy.
Local leaders are anticipated to talk about climate affects in their communities and the impacts of inaction by calling attention to some of the latest data in climate research.
The group also plans to launch a national Climate Impact Map to live-track disasters this summer.
John Vaillant, author of a book called Fire Weather is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech.
Mayor Andrew Knack of Edmonton, Mayor Richard Ireland of Jasper Atla, Mayor Merlin Blackwell of Clearwater, B.C., Mayor Loren Schinkel of Lac du Bonnet, Man. Valérie Plante, former Mayor of Montréal, Que. and co-chair of host organization Elbows Up For Climate are scheduled to speak at the event.
Local municipal leadership from Ottawa, Gatineau, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Whitehorse, Regina, North Vancouver, St. Catharines, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Camrose, Prince George and Courtenay are anticipated to attend.
Federal leaders are also anticipated to take part in the summit and meetings at the annual conference.
The Climate Summit is scheduled to take place in Edmonton at 12:40 p.m. MT in the Main Atrium of the Art Gallery of Alberta and online via Zoom.
