Climate Change in BC
The impacts of a changing climate are already evident in BC:
- Weather variability: Extreme climate events and associated natural disasters such as flooding due to high-intensity rainfall, storm surges, wind storms have already impacted, and will continue to impact critical infrastructures affecting communities, industries and the environment in BC.
- Glacier cover in BC is currently retreating at rates unprecedented in the last 8000 years. Many regions of BC will experience increasing water shortages and there will be increasing competition among uses for water resources.
- BC forests: forest industry and forest-dependent communities are particularly vulnerable to climate-related risks including wild fires and pest infestations like the pine beetle which has now encompassed over 9.2 million hectares in BC
- Climate change will continue to exacerbate existing stresses on BC fisheries. The vulnerability of species like the Pacific Salmon is heightened by the unique social, economic and ecological significance of the species.
- BC agricultural sector is facing both positive and negative impacts from climate change, with more frequent and sustained drought being the greatest risk.
(Source: From Impacts to Adaptation, Canada in a Changing Climate 2007, Government of Canada)
Climate Sense takes a common sense approach to climate change. Climate Sense promotes both mitigation and adaptation approaches to action on climate change in BC. Mitigation is necessary to reduce the rate and magnitude of climate change and includes Climate Sense Programs and Projects, while adaptation is essential to reduce the damages from climate change that cannot be avoided and includes Climate Sense education and awareness. (link to resources page.)
The Climate Sense philosophy means even small actions and slight behavioural changes can add up to substantial results.
