Climate change is affecting all life on Earth. The implications of changing temperatures, weather patterns, etc, are already being noticed in the CSTC territory. The mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestation spread throughout the CSTC territory and surrounding regions in part due to the change in climate (warmer winters). Combined with fire suppression and timber resource management (government system), the MPB flourished and has now killed most of the pine trees within the CSTC territory.
It is unclear how traditional practices will be affected because of the cummulative effects of climate change, industrial resource extraction and other human activities. In all likelihood the Yinka Whut’en will adapt and continue to survive, but the increased pressure from climate change may make this historically much more difficult than the adaptation from first contact with European settlers. In light of this, much work in the area of understanding and informing our youth about the impacts and adaptation to climate change is needed. This section contains some information and other links to climate change and how indigenous people are being affected.
CSTC at Cop15, Copenhagen, Denmark
CSTC Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee attended the COP15 meetings with a delegation of indigenous leaders.
http://www.facebook.com/influencers#/group.php?gid=195046723995
Interactive Online Course on REDD Now Available
http://www.forestcarbonportal.com/article.php?item=836
A new online course that provides an introduction to climate change and REDD is now free and available to the public at www.conservationtraining.org. The interactive course is designed for non-specialists who seek a general understanding of REDD and allows users to stop and start the course at their own pace. The course consists of 4 modules:
Module 1: Background on Climate Change. This introductory module will walk you through the basics of climate change so that you have a solid understanding of what climate change is, what causes it, what the impacts are predicted to be, and how to mitigate its effects. With that foundation, you will learn about the role of forests in climate change and delve into the drivers of deforestation. Finally, the module wraps up with a discussion on strategies to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. Length: 4 lessons – 2.5 hours
Module 2: International Considerations. The module begins by providing you with a general framework of REDD, including essential elements like carbon accounting, monitoring, financial flows, and policy. Lessons on technical elements, policy context, carbon markets, social considerations, and biodiversity considerations will give you a solid understanding of what REDD is. Length: 6 lessons – 2.25 hours
Module 3: National Considerations. This module begins with an overview of the various scales (project, sub-national, and national) at which REDD activities can be undertaken. The second lesson then provides an overview of national approaches to REDD. Length: 2 lessons – 40 minutes
Module 4: Project Considerations. In this concluding module, you will learn about REDD project considerations. This module will provide information on standards that have been created for avoided deforestation projects, as well as the steps of REDD project design and implementation. The module ends with a case study for you to read and review, as you reflect on what you have learned throughout the course. Length: 2 lessons and 1 case study – 50 minutes
This course was prepared by a consortium of non-profits that includes The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance, GTZ, the Rainforest Alliance and the World Wildlife Fund. In addition to the online course, the consortium has published detailed manuals for the instructors and participants of in-person training events on REDD. These documents are available in English, French and Spanish.
Climate Change Resources for B.C. Planners
Past and Future Climate Change Data
The
Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC) provides climate information including past historic climate trends and future climate change projections. Their
Regional Analysis Tool can be found at:
http://pacificclimate.org/tools/regionalanalysis/ Case Studies
NRCan and CIP’s Municipal Case Studies
A joint study examined the planning process and climate change in five municipalities across the country. The case studies address a sample of the major climate change impacts facing Canadian communities. These include water resource depletion, coastal erosion due to higher sea levels, and permafrost melting. The plain language summaries are available on CIP’s website at:
The case studies include:
City of Calgary• : Municipal Water Supply
Corporation of Delta• Case Study: Sensitivity of the Roberts Bank Tidal Flats to Accelerated Sea Level Rise and Intensified Storminess
Graham Island• Case Study: Impacts of Sea Level Rise
Southeastern New Brunswick Coastal Communities• Case Study: Impacts of Sea Level Rise
Salluit • Case Study: Impacts of Degrading Permafrost
UKCIP’s Database of Case Studies
The UK Climate Impacts Programme, UKCIP, hosts an excellent website of resources on climate change adaptation geared to local governments in the UK. Among the resources are a database of case studies that describe impacts and adaptation responses, and the Adaptation Wizard that walks you through the steps of an adaptation planning process and links the user to relevant resources.
EKOS Communications Inc. Videos on Climate Change
Two videos feature mayors, councillors and senior policy advisors supported by clips from highly respected climate scientists to highlight the impacts of climate change on water-related infrastructure in municipalities. Both videos are set in B.C., one in the rural setting of the Fraser Basin and the second in the urban setting of the Lower Mainland. They can be viewed on the EKOS Communication website:
http://ekoscommunications.com/taxonomy/term/55 Ministry of Environment
Time to Tackle Toronto’s Warming •
Climate Change Adaptation Options for Toronto’s Urban Forests •
A Scan of Climate Change Impacts on Toronto •
Cities Preparing for Climate Change: A Study of Six Urban Regions•
Assessment Reports
IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (AR4): Synthesis Summary for Policy Makers
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a body of the United Nations. The IPCC reviews the work of hundreds of climate scientists around the world to produce a report on the state of climate change. The IPCC is widely recognized as an authoritative voice on climate change. Their latest report, the Fourth Assessment Report, or AR4, includes a Summary for Policy Makers which can be found at
http://www.ipcc.ch/.
Government of Canada’s From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007
NRCan coordinated a nation-wide scientific assessment of climate change impacts and adaptation that is complementary to the IPCC’s 2007 Assessment Report. It discusses current and future risks, and opportunities that climate change presents to Canada. There are regional chapters inlcuding a chapter on B.C.. It can be located at
http://www.adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/assess/2007/index_e.php Climate Overview 2007: Hydrology and Future Climate Impacts in B.C.
The Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium’s (PCIC) assessment report for B.C. reviews historical climate trends and future climate projections using both global and regional climate models, where regional models take into account local geographic features that influence climate such as mountain ranges. It can be found at
http://pacificclimate.org/resources/publications/ Information About Climate Change and Its Impacts:
SOUTHEASTERN B.C.
Climate Change in the Columbia Basin: Starting the Dialogue.• CBT (2006)http://www.cbt.org/climatechange/pdfs/Climate%20Change%20in%20the%20Canadian%20Columbia%20Basin%20-%20Starting%20the%20Dialogue.pdf
OKANAGAN
Implications of Climate Change in B.C.’s Southern Interior Forests• . CMIAE (2005) http://www.cmiae.org/conferences-past.htm#Implications_of_Climate_Change2008.07 3
B.C. COAST
NORTHERN B.C.
Climate Change Planning Guides
Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments is a comprehensive guide to preparing for and responding to climate change. It was jointly produced by the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington, King County, Washington, and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. This excellent reference document may exceed the capacity of smaller local governments, but it serves as a useful resource. It is available at
http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=7066 Adapting to Climate Change: An Introduction for Canadian Municipalities outlines a process for planning for climate change, and includes an array of case studies that illustrate how communities are responding to climate change. It is available at http://www.c-ciarn.ca/adapting_e.html.
Adapting to Climate Change: A Risk-Based Guide for Ontario Municipalities takes a risk-management perspective from risk estimation, risk evaluation, risk controls and adaptation decisions to implementation and monitoring. It is available at
http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/projdb/pdf/176a_e.pdf.
Considering Climate Change in Your Community: A Start-up Guide for B.C. Communities
Climate Change Planning Tools for First Nations Guidebooks, Center for Indigenous Environmental Resources (2007)
Halifax ClimateSMART Developer’s Risk Mangement Guidehttp://www.halifax.ca/climate/index.html2008.07 4
Sample Plans That Include Climate Change Actions
City of Calgary. Climate Change Action Plan 2006. Available at http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/bu/environmental_management/climate_change_program/target_50_climate_change_action_plan.pdf (as of June 2008).
City of Ottawa Official Plan (white paper: Climate Change and the Official Plan review) Available at: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/beyond_2020/papers/white/climate_en.html (as of June 2008)
Regional Climate Change Centres, Governments, Universities & Organizations
To understand climate impacts in a specific location, in more detail and/or in a particular sector, e.g., coastal erosion or water supply, it may be advisable to bring in specialized expertise. There are hundreds of scientists, researchers and others working in regional climate centres, governments, universities and organizations across the country. Currently, there is no centralized agency that facilitates access to these individuals or institutions. Below you will find a list of organizations and institutions that might be working in your region. Also investigate local provincial and university departments that are working on climate change.
Adaptation and Impacts Research Division (AIRD), Environment Canadahttp://www.ires.ubc.ca/aird/index.html
Alliance for Resilient Cities – http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/arc.php
B.C. Environment, Climate Change Section – http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/air/climate/
Canadian Forest Service, NRCan – http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/?lang=en
Columbia Basin Trust – http://www.cbt.org/climatechange/
Fraser Basin Council – http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca/
Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction – http://www.iclr.org
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), in particular the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Program – http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium – http://pacificclimate.org/
Resources North – http://www.resourcesnorth.org/
Water & Climate Impacts Research Centre (W-CIRC) http://w-circ.uvic.ca/english/index.php
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