The Climate Resilience Knowledge to Action (CRKA) team, part of the Climate Change Research program at the YukonU Research Centre, conducts research, develops tools, and delivers training to support links between climate change knowledge and policy, planning and decision-making processes.
CRKA (formerly Climate Information and Mainstreaming Program) is a research and education program focused on making climate change knowledge relevant and accessible.
We conduct applied research on climate change adaptation, risk, resilience, policy, and education with the goal of linking knowledge to action. This program supports the integration of climate change into planning and policy. We develop curricula and deliver training to build the North’s capacity to address climate change.
Currently CRKA is focused on two projects:
1. Understanding community adaptation capacity needs
The goal of this research is to better understand and document existing adaptation capacity strengths and gaps in the Yukon, including the actors, resources, and current actions that contribute to climate resilience.
2. Developing learning modules to advance adaptation
The goal of this project is to develop training materials that help a range of audiences progress to an intermediate level of understanding of climate change adaptation sub-topics and related tools and approaches.
To date, two learning modules have been developed: Introduction to Climate Change and our Global Society, and Climate Change and the Yukon. These courses are free, online, self-guided interactive course which take approximately 3 hours each to complete. The first course acts as a primer for future climate change training by explaining key terminology, reviewing the scientific basis of climate change, and describing different responses including adaptation and mitigation. The second course focuses on climate change impacts, risks, and responses - as well as relevant organizations and policy - which are specific to the Yukon.
A key resource for decision makers is the Yukon Climate Change Indicators and Key Findings Report 2022 which highlights broad takeaways about how climate change is affecting the Yukon. Another key resource is the annually updated Compendia of Yukon Climate Change Knowledge which is a source of information on recent climate change publications including a summary and local relevance.
Project Lead, Alison Perrin, Senior Research Professional, Climate Change Research, YukonU Research Centre
Ellorie McKnight, Climate Change Education and Project Coordinator
Climate Change courses
The Climate Change Research program has developed four climate change training courses through the Climate Resilience Knowledge to Action project. These courses are free, online, self-guided, interactive courses which take anywhere from 2-5 hours each to complete.
Adaptation Policy and Planning Research
Perrin, A., 2014. Mainstreaming: Incorporating climate change into northern decisions. ArcticNet Arctic Change 2014. Ottawa, Ontario.
Compendia of Yukon Climate Change Knowledge
Smith, A. & Stetkiewicz, (eds.), 2022. Compendium of Yukon Climate Change Science: 2021 Supplement. YukonU Research Centre, Yukon University, 21p.
Yukon Climate Change Indicators and Key Findings
Perrin, A. & Jolkowski, D., 2022. Yukon climate change indicators and key findings 2022. YukonU Research Centre, Yukon University, 126p.