The Yukon Party wants to put the territory on the national and international stage for its work on climate change.

To do so, Yukon Party Leader Dennis Fentie told a press conference this morning, if re-elected Oct. 10, his party would move forward on establishing a Climate Change Research Centre for the North at Yukon College.

'It's clear that we have to get to work in a much more scientific, much more technological, much more focused approach in dealing with climate change in the North while globally we work to reduce the factors that are contributing to global warming overall,' said Fentie.

The evidence of climate change is 'stark and realistic' in the Yukon, said the premier, making it an ideal location to establish a research and development institution.

He added, with the infrastructure available in the territory, it is the logical choice for a Canadian centre.

Fentie said he has already presented the idea to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and federal Environment Minister Rona Ambrose. The federal government has been responsive to the suggestion, he said.

Much of the project would be housed within the goals and priorities of the $120-million Northern Strategy, which is directed includes protecting the environment and funding northern research and development.

That obligates the federal government to partner with the Yukon to some extent on the project, said Fentie.

'This is a very important step towards Yukon's and the North's ability to deal with climate change. The work we can do here will also contribute to the national challenges we are facing with global warming and indeed. internationally. We can be a contributor and do our part for the global community.'

Fentie was unable to provide a budget or timeline in relation to the election commitment.

'It's a mistake to speculate and committing the dollars therein,' he said. 'It takes a lot of thought, a lot of planning, a lot of work to make things happen in a manner that you get results. Our party is a results-oriented party. A budget will be forthcoming.'

If re-elected, the Yukon Party would begin to work on the project immediately, said Fentie.

'The sooner we get going on this, the sooner we'll be able to develop, adapt and mitigate what's happening to our environment and our ecology.'

The project would also be completed in association with the Cold Climate Innovation Cluster, which tabled a feasibility study last January.

The study indicated that creating a cold climate innovation cluster in the Yukon is feasible. It also said prior to the creation of the centre, a technology centre must be created and that northern solutions are required for northern problems.

Fentie tabled the feasibility study, as well as conceptual designs for the building, at the press conference.

'There will be more going on in the precincts of Yukon College in terms of investment and construction.'

The 'research centre of excellence' would provide a broad base of educational, research and development opportunities on the Yukon College campus, but it is not related to the establishment of an accredited university, he said.

Fentie added an announcement had not been made on the plans prior to dropping the election writ because it's a 'complex issue' that couldn't be introduced to the public piecemeal.

Work will still need to be done to establish a centre, engage the scientific community, and involve the federal government, he said.

'But this is a commitment to the Yukon public and with the commitment comes the political will and the creditability to deliver it,' he said. 'This is the next step for us on our environmental agenda.'

He labelled the plan as an 'economic-environmental plank' that is important to the Yukon's future.

It's a project that would require partnership among Yukon College, governments, scientists and the corporate community, he said.

He added, however, that research and development are investment areas that are grabbing the attention of both the public sector and governments.

The government would also be able to leverage the investment in relation to the International Polar Year, he said.

'We're talking about a research and development centre for cold climate that will allow us to develop adaptation measures, mitigation measures, contribute to nationally and internationally so we can deal with this global phenomenon.'

He added, '(The research centre) would make the Yukon a world leader in climate change research and development.'