Council's Naabik'íyáti' Committee acknowledges plan a viable starting point for addressing policy regarding climate change on the Navajo Nation

News Release

The 24th Navajo Nation Council - Office of the Speaker

The Naabik'íyáti' Committee of the 24th Navajo Nation Council voted 12 in favor and 0 opposed to adopt the Climate Adaptation Plan for the Navajo Nation on Thursday, September 5, 2019. The plan was published by the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife on December 20, 2018.

The Climate Adaptation Plan for the Navajo Nation states: “Climate Change is real. Effects from climate change are happening right now and the Navajo People are witness to its continuing outcome. ... Navajo culture is centered around the available, yet diminishing, sources of natural resources.” (Page 13)

Based on feedback and input from tribal environmental professionals, local leaders and Division of Natural Resources staff, six natural resource priorities were identified that include: water, feral horses, communication, enforcement and compliance, pollution, air quality, and illegal dumping, and grazing management.

“I applaud the Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife Department, the Division of Natural Resources and the Department of Water Resources for taking on the initiative to include the input of our community leaders,” said Council Delegate Mark Freeland, who sponsored the climate change adaptation plan legislation 0239-19.

The plan was created utilizing the US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service planning process for natural resource identification and prioritization along with a five-step planning and implementation process developed by the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals.

The legislation calls for the implementation and further development of the plan by the Navajo Nation government. The Naabik'íyáti' Committee acknowledged that the plan is a viable starting point for addressing policy regarding climate change on the Navajo Nation.

Title II of the Navajo Nation Code empowers the Naabik'íyáti' Committee of the Navajo Nation Council to coordinate and pronounce the official position of the Navajo Nation.

The Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Navajo Nation is available at the Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife Department website at: https://www.nndfw.org.