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He worked on community-led renewable energy projects in Ontario and New York State before coming to Iqaluit in 2019.
The following interview has been edited and shortened.
Were you interested in renewable energy growing up? Was it as mentioned then?
When I first became interested in climate justice, renewable energy was not my top priority. Back then, there was more dialogue about “Here’s the thing, in 30 years we’re all going to die” that was really worrying, and we need to be aware of that. climate anxiety. In my late teens, I realized that we need to not only raise problems but find solutions, and at university I started thinking about renewable energy. The conversation has changed since I joined and we are now talking about how we can use the solutions we have. To do this, we only need political will.
What’s a myth about renewable energy in the Arctic that you want to break down?
The most asked question to me is “Does the sun work at the North Pole?” Some communities see 24 hours of darkness from time to time, so how does this work? When you look at renewable sources in the Arctic, it’s important to look at the annual energy production from the sun. In the summer, some communities get 24-hour sunlight, so there are times when you’re constantly generating electricity. It definitely works.
The term “just transition” is often used to mean renewable energy. What would a fair transition look like to you in Nunavut?
A just transition must be community and Inuit led and included. Eskimo Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit traditional knowledge and social values). Inuit needs to be in a meaningful way been consulted in any process and I don’t see that at the moment. It’s not just about getting something so we can have a renewable energy policy in Nunavut, it needs to benefit and originate from Eskimo communities.
What is one fact of the climate crisis that everyone should understand?
To me, the biggest truth that people don’t understand is the urgency of the climate crisis. there is a lot of climate goals For 2030 or 2050, but now something has to change. That’s the idea right now that we should just keep the lights on, but also move away from diesel as 100 percent of the area’s electricity.
Have you watched the movie Don’t Look Up? What are your thoughts?
I did. When I first got involved in climate justice, the dialogue was mostly “All the terrible things that happened at work,” and I felt it. film. The message tried to be “There is an urgency that people don’t take seriously,” which is true of climate justice, but I prefer the “What we can do to make things better” dialogue.
Advocating for climate justice is important, but it can also be exhausting. How do you take care of yourself while taking care of the environment?
It can be frustrating to feel like nothing has changed, so it’s important to find or create a network of people who share your concerns and passions. Going out also reduces my stress. I got a dog a few years ago so it’s good that he forced me to go outside. Having other passions beyond this one thing very big important.
How hopeful are you that governments and businesses will move along with the transition to renewable energy?
I am optimistic that something will change. We now know that leaders are making decisions that affect young people and businesses are participating in this transition because they will produce electricity cheaper. We only need regional government and utility companies to cooperate with us. I am optimistic, but there is still room for improvement.
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