VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTIVE
(Canada in a Changing Climate)
(Canada in a Changing Climate)
Adaptive capacity in Canada is generally high but is unevenly distributed between and within regions and populations.
As a prosperous country with high levels of education,
access to technology, and strong and effective institutions, Canada is well
positioned to take action on adapting to climate change. However, there are
significant differences in this ability to adapt among different subregions and
population groups, resulting in differing vulnerabilities to climate change The
IPCC AR4 has concluded that, in all regions of the world, no matter how
prosperous, there are certain areas, sectors and communities that are
particularly vulnerable to climate change (Wilbanks et al., 2007).
Within Canada,
differences in adaptive capacity and the perception of the risks presented by
climate change have been noted between urban centres and rural/remote
communities. Both urban and rural centres have characteristics that enhance or
limit adaptive capacity (Table SR-4). Urban centres tend to be places of greater wealth, higher education and skill sets,
with easier access to technology and institutions. However, urban centres also
tend to have greater reliance on critical energy, transportation and water
infrastructure, more severe heat stress and air quality problems, and larger
numbers of poor and elderly residents that result in vulnerabilities not shared
by most rural communities. Northern Canada,
with its sparse, widely distributed population, evolving governance and
institutions, and significant subsistence economy, has unique limitations to
adaptive capacity. Among population groups, the poor, the elderly, recent
immigrants and Aboriginal peoples tend to face greater challenges in coping
with climate changes, often due to limited financial resources, health problems
and difficulties accessing technology and institutional services.
Table SR-4: General differences in adaptive capacity, which affect vulnerability to climate change, between urban and rural communities (Note: These do not apply in all cases)
|
URBAN CENTRES |
RURAL COMMUNITIES |
Strengths | Strengths |
|
|
Limitations
|
Limitations
|
|
|
What is vulnerability and adaptive capacity?
Vulnerability to climate change "is the degree to which a system is
susceptible to, and unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change,
including climate variability and extremes” (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, 2007, p. 21). Three factors influence the vulnerability of any system:
1) the nature of the climate changes to which it is exposed; 2) the climate
sensitivity of the system; and 3) the capacity of that system to adapt to
changed climate conditions. Therefore, while a sector, community or population
may be exposed to significant climate changes, it is not considered vulnerable
unless those climate changes result in significant negative impacts, and it
does not have the capability to undertake adaptation actions that would
significantly reduce those impacts.
Although extensive research efforts have focused on projecting the magnitude
and rate of climate changes, and on understanding the relationships between
climate and biophysical systems, the characterization of adaptive capacity is a
relatively new area of study. Adaptive capacity is influenced by a number of
location-specific social, economic and institutional factors that act to either
constrain or enhance the ability to adapt.
Within Canada,
there are significant differences in the climate sensitivity of major economic
sectors. Among the most sensitive sectors are those dependent upon renewable
natural resources, including agriculture, fisheries, forestry and
non-commercial food supply, as well as many aspects of tourism and recreation.
Adaptive capacity similarly varies widely between sectors, communities and
populations. Assessment of vulnerability must consider variability in all these
factors.
Since vulnerability refers to the susceptibility of a system to harm, it
does not consider the benefits that may result from changing climate. However,
the ability to take advantage of such opportunities is also a function of
adaptive capacity. Finally, where vulnerability is considered relatively low due
to a high capacity to adapt, significant negative impacts may still occur if
appropriate adaptation actions are not implemented. As noted in the IPCC AR4,
although many societies have high adaptive capacity and the necessary financial
resources, they have not taken effective action on adaptation to climate
change, variability and extremes (Adger et al., 2007; Field et al., 2007)
Resource-dependent and Aboriginal communities are particularly vulnerable to climate changes. This vulnerability is magnified in the Arctic.
Although agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting do not account
for a large percentage of Canada's GDP, they are vitally important for
the economic well-being of many subregions and communities where land-
and resource-based activities remain the foundation of economic life.
More than 1600 communities in all regions of Canada obtain 30% or more
of their employment income from these sectors. The economic impacts of
climate change at the community scale can be significant.
The vulnerability of resource-dependent communities to climate change
reflects the high climate sensitivity of many natural resource–based
industries, limited economic diversification, and more restricted
access to services.
Aboriginal communities, many of which retain strong linkages to the
land for both economic and cultural well-being, are also particularly
vulnerable to climate change impacts. The subsistence economy
may constitute up to 50% of the total income in these communities. This vulnerability is magnified in Arctic regions, where
rates of warming have been, and are projected to be, the greatest in the
world. Changes in snow cover and sea-ice conditions, along with
ecosystem impacts, are affecting access to traditional food supplies,
while permafrost degradation and coastal erosion are affecting
community infrastructure. The adaptive capacity of many
Aboriginal communities is presently being eroded by social, cultural,
political and economic changes taking place in response to a range of
stresses. Significant impacts on traditional ways of life
are unavoidable.
