Global News – Here’s how climate change will impact the region where you live
“The major issue is the accumulation of threats, the multiplication of threats.”
This article in Global News covers the impacts that climate change will have on various parts of Canada, and although many of the effects can be seen countrywide, some are specific to different regions. In Atlantic Canada, the main concern is sea ice loss and bigger waves. Coastal flooding can cause seawater infiltration into groundwater sources, putting freshwater at risk. Central Canada is looking at much warmer weather. This leads to an increased risk of forest fires and permafrost melting in the Northern regions. Both of these can cause serious damage to infrastructure that can be difficult to repair. Additionally, if lake levels rise, flooding is a concern for areas in close proximity.
“It’s true that there is more arable land but as precipitation patterns change, we’re going to see less precipitation in some of those important growing areas, much longer droughts, more risk of forest fires, greater risk of floods.”
The West is also at a high risk of wildfires and drought. The agriculture industry will be faced with flooding and drought messing with the growing season. Furthermore, there will be less snowpack meaning the spring melt that is frequently relied on for energy and water will be severely diminished. The North is warming at three times the global average. This is decreasing the perennial ice pack, which is now freezing and thawing whereas it used to stay frozen. The impacts of this can be seen in rivers drying up and shrinking glaciers. Other impacts of climate change include navigational risks, infrastructure collapsing due to unstable ice conditions, and food supply being limited.
The Canada1Water project looks to give the tools to Canadians to adapt and mitigate to climate change before these disasters happen. This platform will include decision support tools to inform on droughts, floods, carbon sequestration, wildfire risk, permafrost changes, ecosystem services, and surface/groundwater quantity.