Climate Change

Climate change is a change in the "average weather" that a given region experiences. When we speak of climate change on a global scale, we are referring to changes in the climate of the Earth as a whole. The rate and magnitude of global climate changes over the long term have many implications for natural ecosystems.

For thousands of years, the Earth's atmosphere has changed very little. The temperature and the careful balance of greenhouse gases have been optimal for humans, animals and plants to survive. But today we are having problems keeping this balance. By burning fossil fuels to heat our homes, run our cars, produce electricity, and manufacture all sorts of products, we are adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. These activities are changing the atmosphere at a greater rate than humans have ever experienced.

Climate change is more than a warming trend. Increasing temperatures will lead to changes in many aspects of weather, such as wind patterns, the amount and type of precipitation, and the types and frequency of severe weather events. Such climate change could have far-reaching and/or unpredictable environmental, social and economic consequences.

A national assessment of climate change impacts, coordinated by Natural Resources Canada, was published in 2007. Some key findings for Ontario were published in the Municipal World magazine in July 2006, including:

• Communities that already experience periodic drought may do so more frequently from now on, due to higher summer temperatures and lower summer rainfall amounts. Lake water levels are expected to drop, which can affect drinking water supplies, recreational needs and those communities that rely on ports for shipping.

• On August 19, 2005, a band of highly localized and intense rainstorms tracked across southern Ontario resulting in over $400 million dollars in damages (the most expensive natural disaster in Ontario’s history).

• Risks of injury, illness and death caused by heat stress, poor air quality and waterborne disease outbreaks are projected to increase.

EnviroZine - Environment Canada's online newsletter including March 2008 article "If global warming is real, why are we getting so much cold weather this winter?"

EnviroZine - Environment Canada's online newsletter including January 2008 article "What's the difference between climate change and global warming?" and "Canada's top ten weather stories for 2007"