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    Impacts of Climate Change

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    This tool serves to inform users how climate change will impact Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the risks and opportunities that are associated with each of these impacts. Learn More

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Impacts of Climate Change

The term climate change is often used synonymously with 'global warming'. While the planet is getting warmer, this is only part of the story.

In this Section

  • What is Climate Change 
    • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
  • Impacts of Climate Change
  • The Green Economy
  • What is Energy Efficiency
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Use
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  • About Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
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  • Impacts of Climate Change

Impacts of Climate Change

The term climate change is often used synonymously with 'global warming'. While the planet is getting warmer, this is only part of the story. Climate change will bring a broad range of impacts globally and locally. In Newfoundland and Labrador, climate change is expected to bring weather that is warmer, wetter and stormier. Outlined below are examples of how climate change may affect our province, including environmental impacts and the potential risks and opportunities associated with each.

Climate Effect Impacts
Increasing Air Temperatures
Temperatures are rising throughout the world. Newfoundland and Labrador is already 1.5°C warmer than the historical average and areas of the province could be between 2.2°C and 4.0°C warmer by mid-century.
  • Survival of new invasive species, including pests and diseases that could threaten human health
  • Increase risk of forest fires
  • Changes in ecosystems and wildlife
  • Longer summer tourism and growing seasons
  • Decreasing energy demand
Increasing Sea Surface Temperatures
While sea surface temperatures vary regionally, they have been higher during the past three decades than at any other time since reliable data collection began in 1880.2
  • Survival of new aquatic invasive species
  • Changes in marine ecosystems and species distribution
  • Changes in aquaculture productivity
  • Reductions in winter sea ice
  • More tropical storms and hurricanes
Rising Sea Level
As temperatures rise, Arctic ice is melting and sea levels are rising. A study from 2010 estimates that sea-level rise around Newfoundland and Labrador could be as high as 40 centimeters by 2050 and 100 centimeters by 2100.3
  • Coastal erosion
  • Loss of low-lying land
  • Soil salination
  • Saltwater intrusion
More Extreme Weather
Warming waters mean stronger storms are able to reach northern areas more frequently. It's expected that, in certain areas of the province, storm activity could increase significantly.
  • Increase in inland flooding
  • Increase in coastal flooding due to sea surges
  • Changes in water quality and availability
  • Damage to homes and infrastructure, including transportation infrastructure
  • Risks to public safety

References

  • 2 http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/pdfs/print_sea-surface-temp-2015.pdf
  • 3 http://www.nr.gov.nl.ca/mines&en/geosurvey/publications/CR2010/2010_Batterson-Liverman.pdf

Impacts of Climate Change

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To learn more about how climate change is affecting Newfoundland and Labrador, check out this interactive tool on the Impacts of Climate Change.

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Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Confederation Building
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 4J6
Tel. (709) 729-1210
climatechange@gov.nl.ca

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