Climate is changing; the need to understand its risk to key economic sectors has become imperative. In close collaboration with stakeholders and partners, this project contributes to the understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on energy supply, agriculture, and on the natural capital of the north, and to identifying adaptation options.

Our goal is to enable policy- and decision-makers to appraise the resilience and adaptation options of their sectors to climate change. To this end, the project conducts focused studies selected on the basis of: vulnerability of the sector/region to climate change; its importance to the economy and the natural capital; the significance of Earth Sciences Sector (ESS) potential contributions; and the level of stakeholders' demand. This project identifies and maintains dialogue on research needs with the policy- and decision-makers who are involved in developing adaptation strategies, and by ensuring the usability of the outputs. Where appropriate, the project establishes close partnerships with stakeholders to develop shared vision, objectives and multidisciplinary teams, and conducts integrated assessment within and across sectors.

Project Leader: Aining Zhang

Activities

Water-dependant Energy

• Assessing climate change impacts on water availability for tar sands development in the Athabasca River Basin
• Assessing historical hydro-climatic changes in boreal Quebec
• Assessing frequency, severity and causes of extreme droughts and low flows in the Winnipeg River basin

Prairie Agriculture

• Integrated assessment of Prairie agricultural resilience and adaptation options
• Assessing Prairie land potential for energy crop production as an adaptation option in a changing climate
• Improving Understanding of Prairie Rangeland Grazing Capacity in Climate Change and Adaptive Management Options
• Assessing the Bio-geomorphic Effects of Land Management Practices and Climate Change on Rangelands

Natural Capital of the North

• Assessment of climate change impacts on a wildlife habitat economically important for northerners
• Assessment of impacts of permafrost degradation on polar bear habitat