Communities across Northern Canada are witnessing first-hand the devastating impacts a changing climate is having across Arctic ecosystems. Livelihoods, Indigenous culture, social relations, food security, health, well-being and a way of life, which have existed for generations are all being impacted.
Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, was joined by his colleagues in releasing the Northern Canada Chapter of the Canada in a Changing Climate: Regional Perspectives Report to help inform and support adaptation to climate change in Canada's North.
The new chapter highlights how addressing urgent societal issues ― such as housing shortages, education, food security and culturally appropriate health and wellness ― is deeply intertwined with efforts to build resilience to climate change.Canada's North is experiencing a range of climate change-related impacts such as rising temperatures, changing sea levels, and the loss of ice and permafrost, which deeply affect all aspects of life in the North and will require unprecedented action. Indigenous Peoples have shown continued resilience over centuries; however, climate change is a continual and pervasive threat that will only exacerbate other stressors faced by northerners, such as social inequity and environmental issues.
The report is a part of Canada in a Changing Climate: Advancing our Knowledge for Action, Canada's National Knowledge Assessment of how and why Canada's climate is changing, the impacts of these changes and how we are adapting. The assessment reports raise awareness and understanding of the key issues facing our country and provide information to improve understanding and to support sound adaptation decisions and actions.
The Government of Canada is also working with partners across the country on the development of the country's first National Adaptation Strategy, which will advance a cohesive, equitable and whole-of-society approach to climate adaptation in Canada.
Ensuring people in Northern Canada have access to credible, evidence-based information, combined with traditional Indigenous knowledge, will enable communities to make more informed decisions to prepare for, and respond to, climate change impacts in ways that work best for them.
A live-streamed event on December 7 will follow the official release of the Northern Canada Chapter of the Regional Perspectives Report. Hear directly from the authors about how climate change is affecting Northern Canada and how communities and sectors are increasingly taking action to adapt. An Inuktituk version of this news release is available by contacting Media Relations.
