NRT and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society – Degrees of Change
A Summary of the impacts of climate change expected in Canada over the 21st century
The physical effects of climate change on Canada in the next century could touch everything from human health and community infrastructure to water resources and even tourism and recreation activities.
On October 5, 2010, the National Round Table (NRTEE) and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society released the Degrees of Change diagram, an NRTEE compiled document which lays out potential effects of a changing climate on Canada at different degrees of warming. The impacts – 60 in all, culled from documented scientific literature – are categorized into eight separate sectors and include; ecosystems, water resources, human health, communities and infrastructure, resource industries, service industries, security and trade and ice, snow and sea. The diagram is included in the October issue of Canadian Geographic and Géographica magazines, which are almost wholly-devoted to climate change. This release included a special roundtable discussion at the Museum of Nature, and a launch reception with the Governor General providing the keynote address.
Called Degrees of Change, the diagram is the first comprehensive illustration of expected climate impacts published for Canada and appears today in editions of Canadian Geographic and Géographica magazines. Resting on a large body of published scientific information, it lays out 60 specific effects of climate change at increasing levels of warming as part of a joint initiative between the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
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The NRTEE’s Degrees of Change diagram is a summary of the impacts of climate change expected in Canada over the 21st century. It shows both risks and opportunities for Canada from different levels of global warming above pre-industrial levels. |
Compared to average temperatures prior to the industrial revolution, the world is currently 0.78°C warmer. What does this mean for Canada and the people living here now? And what could further climate change induced temperature increases entail? |
In a spirit of collaboration, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy are partnering in a pan-Canadian endeavour to raise awareness and understanding of what climate change could mean to Canada. |
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Climate change and Canada’s response to it have profound economic implications for our nation’s future. There are risks but there are also opportunities. (read more…) |
A comprehensive source of information on climate prosperity, discover videos, interactive features and learn more about how Canada can prosper in the face of global climate change. |
One of the key components of the Climate Prosperity project was the development of 13 distinct lesson plans that were made available to 12,000 middle and secondary schools across Canada. |
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His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, joined the NRTEE and RCGS at the Canadian Museum of Nature on October 5, 2010, for his first public activity. |
The NRTEE and the RCGS organized a moderated “roundtable” discussion on the impacts of climate change for Canada and what we can do to adapt to these impacts. |
On October 5, 2010, the NRTEE and RCGS released the Degrees of Change diagram, an NRTEE compiled document which lays out potential effects of a changing climate on Canada at different degrees of warming. |
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REGIONAL SESSIONS To generate a national conversation on the impacts of climate change and potential solutions, the NRTEE and RCGS hosted a series of panel discussions with leading Canadian experts. |
Astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk provided a video message in support of the Degrees of Change Initiative between the NRTEE and RCGS. |
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© 2013