Two years ago in Aklavik, people at the Annual Gathering of the Arctic Borderlands Ecological Knowledge Co-op decided to do something about climate change.

Many of the people involved in the Co-op come from small northern communities like Old Crow, Aklavik, and Arctic Village. They know that most of the greenhouse gases contributing to climate change come from other parts of the world, but they see the impacts already on the land around them.

"This is a big issue in the communities," says Joan Eamer, who represents Environment Canada in the Co-op.

"People were recording changes they're seeing on the land. They decided we can't just complain and blame other people. We have to do our bit."

The Co-op is unique, a loose association of co-management agencies, Inuvialuit and First Nations government organizations, and Canadian and American federal and territorial governments and research institutions -- all concerned with the area of northwestern Northwest Territories, north Yukon, and northeastern Alaska that constitutes the range of the Porcupine Caribou herd.

Members hold a Gathering once a year to decide on the next year's actions. The 2001 Aklavik Gathering decided to develop a list of ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For help in implementing the decision, the Co-op turned to another unique northern institution, the Northern Climate ExChange (NCE). Based at Yukon College in Whitehorse, the NCE serves as a clearinghouse of climate change information for, about, and by the North.

The NCE put together a list of suggested actions for northern households and small northern communities, both ways of reducing emissions and ways to convince others to do the same.

People at the 2002 Gathering in Fort McPherson were very pleased with the list, says Eamer, and wanted it widely available. So this year the list will return to the Annual Gathering in the form of a poster designed and illustrated by Whitehorse artist Tanya Handley.

"And we think the list is so good that we're including it in this column," adds Eamer.

Hot off the press and straight off the Co-op/NCE poster, here are some things that can be done in the North to reduce greenhouse gases.

At a household level:

• Don't leave your vehicle idling when you don't need to.
• Cut down on the amount of driving you do by walking more and sharing rides.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter. It will use 10-15% less energy.
• Check the caulking and weather stripping on your house. You could cut energy use by up to 25%.
• Wrap your hot water tank with an insulating blanket. It could use as much as 10% less energy.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. Fluorescent lights are 4 times more efficient and last 8-15 times longer.
• When you plug in your vehicle, use a timer or a temperature-sensitive block heater cord. Two hours is all you need.
• Turn down your heat at night or use a setback thermostat.

At a community level:

• Encourage councils and housing authorities to conduct energy audits of buildings.
• Ask your village or hamlet council (in Canadian communities) to check out funding for energy efficiency projects through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
• Encourage power producers to look at alternative power options like wind-diesel hybrids or the capture and use of waste heat.
• Ask local politicians their views on climate change, and inform them of your concerns.
• Document changes you are seeing and concerns you have, and let others know about your concerns.
• Explore the possibilities of a united transboundary (Yukon/NWT/Alaska) voice for observations and concerns regarding climate change.
• Organize a community event or project for Earth Day, Environment Week, or another special day.

The Co-op/NCE poster will be available to participants at the 8th Annual Gathering of the Arctic Borderlands Co-op, held March 11-12 in Whitehorse.

Copies are also available by contacting the Arctic Borderlands Co-op coordinator, borderlands@taiga.net, or Bob Van Dijken at the Northern Climate ExChange, (867) 668-8874 or bvandijk@yukoncollege.yk.ca.