Climate change and internal trade were among the top issues on the minds of premiers across the country as they met in Vancouver this week.

Premier Dennis Fentie told Whitehorse reporters via conference call Tuesday afternoon the Council of the Federation meeting saw "lengthy, detailed discussion" around climate change, including the need for adaptation.

"We, in the North, are pleased with that," Fentie said of the southern provinces recognizing the need for both mitigation and adaptation to deal with climate change.

The northern premiers made a presentation about the impact of climate change in the North. They showed photographs of the impact climate change has had in the North. Among the pictures were degrading infrastructure and the migration of species into the North.

The northern jurisdictions have now been charged with the responsibility of working on a strategy for adapting to climate change.

Fentie spoke on the need to adapt in the changing climate issue and take initiatives to mitigate it as well.

He would not commit to emission standards being set in the territory. While everything is being done to reduce emissions as much as possible, he argued, the territory has a significantly low emissions rate.

Internal trade throughout the country also topped the list of issues on the minds of premiers.

On Tuesday morning, the Council of the Federation released a statement reaffirming the importance of the national Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). The agreement was signed in 1995, with Nunavut being the only jurisdiction not signed on.

Tuesday's statement points to steps the premiers took to strengthen domestic trade through endorsing a dispute resolution system; having ministers report to the Council of the Federation on progress over strengthening the AIT to allow for full labour mobility in the country; increasing efforts to finish the energy chapter as well as the agriculture chapter of AIT; and working on reconciling regulations around the transport sector.

Premiers have directed ministers to finish negotiations on the AIT by the Council of the Federation's meeting scheduled for July in Quebec.

While discussions focused on domestic trade, officials with the government are also looking at an inter-provincial trade agreement signed between Alberta and B.C.

Fentie said the assessment of the agreement between the territory's neighbouring provinces should be complete by the end of February.

While no decision on whether to add the territory has been made, the Yukon is signed on to the national agreement and will continue working on that.

"Our agreement now is the internal trade agreement," he said.

Meanwhile, Fentie also found time to go to the annual roundup for the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia, which is also happening in Vancouver until tomorrow.

Speaking to investors at the conference, Fentie said he focused on the territory's "tremendous resource potential", its progress in the regulatory regime and growth in the mining sector.

It's important to note, he went on, work in the territory has gone beyond exploration to production with the opening of the Sherwood-Copper mine.

As the Sherwood-Copper mine continues to operate, the Ruby Creek molybdenum mine project north of Atlin, B.C. shut down unexpectedly last Friday.

Fentie said he understands (and the company has stated so), the shutdown is only temporary.

While he spoke with Liard First Nation Chief Liard McMillan at the conference as well, Fentie said the chief didn't express any concern about mining work on first nation traditional territory.

Late last week, McMillan issued a press release criticizing the lack of consultation mining companies offer first nations about their exploration and development projects.

Fentie will be returning to the territory on Thursday after he, Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon and Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor meet with officials at the Japanese consulate.