The federal government's priority is to help northerners reduce greenhouse gas emissions rather than adapt to climate change, Environment Minister John Baird says.

Baird made the comments Monday when asked about requests from Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie for federal help to deal with the results of global warming.

"Certainly adaptation is a significant challenge," he said. "It's obviously got to be part of any initiative but we can't set our sights away from the need to reduce greenhouse gases, the need to tackle climate change head on, which is obviously the most urgent priority."

Although he has "certainly been told about the schools that are beginning to shift because of the permafrost melting and the huge impact on public infrastructure and highways," Baird said these things have to be balanced against the need to slow down climate change.

The Yukon government is working on an action plan to deal with climate change. It released a general strategy last fall.

Fentie has promised to build a climate change research centre at Yukon College.