Understanding the potential impacts of climate change is important so we can prepare for and then adapt to changes in order to minimize the negative affects of climate change in our communities. Canada, a northern country, is expected to see more warming than more southern countries. To learn more about why climate change is happening click here or to learn ways to help stop climate change by reducing the greenhouse gases you release click here.

Ongoing research is being done, using the most advanced climate models, to make predictions of future climate. A number of different models exist but all models have generally agreed that the polar regions will warm more than equatorial regions and that continents will warm more than oceans. But climate change models cannot make reliable predictions on scales smaller than a continent.

On a global scale, expected climate change impacts include:
- Higher fire threat to boreal forests as the climate dries;
- Water demand outgrowing supply;
- Decreased amount of freshwater due to changes in evaporation and precipitation patterns;
- The expansion of tropical diseases northward where populations are not immune;
- Rising sea levels flooding coastal areas, low-lying countries and islands; and,
- Changes in international trading patterns.

Key Climate Change Impacts in Canada

Impacts to Quantity and Quality of Water Resources

- Higher evaporation rates will offset increased precipitation and will intensify water loss in areas where precipitation decreases;

- Lower water levels in Great Lakes;

- Groundwater levels will be influenced by use but in general, groundwater levels will decrease in dry areas, especially those being pumped and will increase more in wetter areas that are not pumped;

- Less freshwater will make it more difficult to reach existing water quality goals;

- Drier areas, such as the prairies will see more droughts;

- Changes in water supply and flow regime will impact hydroelectric power generation; and,

- Agriculture will be influenced by the availability of water and where precipitation decreases greater demand will be put on water resources.

This photo shows an example of lowered water levels. Water level in Lake Mead have dropped. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States and is located on the Colorado River 48 km South East of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Colorado River gets its water from snowmelt runoff from the Rocky Mountains but less than average snowfall, changing rainfall, high evaporation rates, natural variability and current over use are putting stress on this water resource. Image taken from accessed 23 June 2010.

Impacts to Fisheries

- Water temperature will increase, raising the risk of fish kills from oxygen depleted waters in summer but lowering the risk of fish kills in the winter as ice will melt earlier;

- Higher stream temperatures may impact fish survival and spawning;

- Cold water species will see more negative impacts as their natural range will decrease compared to warm or cool water species whose ranges will expand; and,

- Changes in water supply and flow regimes will likely negatively impact fish by disrupting habitats.

This photo shows a forest fire that burnt near Kasabonika, Ontario. Fires may become a more familiar site in the boreal forests of Canada as the climate dries and may become more of a threat to Matawa communities in the future. Photo courtesy of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 

Impacts to Forests and Wilderness

- Taiga and boreal forest belts could shift north as much as 500 km and will change in species composition as plants with better seed dispersal and faster growth will be favored;

- Overall forest production will increase slightly due to longer growing seasons and the expansion of forests into more northern regions;

- The amount of boreal forest will decrease in size and be more vulnerable to pest infestation and fire;

- Changes in precipitation and temperature will alter the seasonal water levels in wetlands influencing their ability to protect from floods, cleanse water and their suitability as waterfowl habitat;

- Higher temperatures will increase the release of carbon from peat lands making peat land a source of atmospheric carbon instead of sinks;

- Loss of breeding and forage habitat for migratory birds and mammals;

- Ecosystems will be more vulnerable to impacts from extreme weather and pests; and,

- Forestry will be influenced by the impacts of wild fires and infestations. Winter harvesting will be impacted by reduced road access as a result of sporadic freezing and thawing due to warmer winters.

This pictures shows a 'drunken forest'. As permafrost melts the ground supporting the roots shifts and erodes causing trees to fall over slightly or completely. Similarly the shifting ground will impact made-man structures originally built into the permafrost. Image taken from accessed 23 June 2010. 

Impacts to Human Health, Economies, Infrastructure and Transporation

- Increased number of heat waves will put more stress on vulnerable populations;

- More pollen and other allergens will cause more difficulties for people with asthma and respiratory ailments;

- Lyme disease will spread further north as the range of ticks expands;

- Resource dependent and indigenous communities will be impacted positively and negatively depending on the impacts to important local resources, with northern Canada seeing the most disruptive effects;

- Airfields in the Hudson Bay region are at risk from melting permafrost and extreme weather events leading to erosion;

- Urban water supplies will be less reliable and will see more restrictions;

- Construction and maintenance costs in areas with melting permafrost will increase;

- Warmer winters will shorten ice road season and lengthen the season for water travel; and,

- Less snow fall will reduce the number of ground and air travel delays and decrease road maintenance in winter but more intense and frequent storms may increase the risk to travelers.