Defining Climate Change
Climate change is a global crisis that the international and local community have crucial roles in addressing through changes in individual, political and industry action. There are many ways to describe climate change and what it is or what it means. Shifts in temperature and weather patterns caused by greenhouse gases trapped inside earth’s atmosphere increase the global temperature. This has profound impacts on the health of nature, wildlife and communities.
The accelerated rate at which we are experiencing climate change, and therefore harder for all species and communities to adapt, is largely due to anthropogenic (human) activity.
The effects and impacts of climate change have been growing for decades, and a 2023 survey done by Leger showed that 67% of Canadians polled were worried about change in climate with 54% of Albertans having that same concern.
Climate change is causing devastating effects on our planet, some of which we have already begun to experience here in Alberta. CPAWS is a nationwide charity that works towards increased protected lands and waters, a a proven tool to act against the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Understanding the Alberta Climate Context
Climate change is causing devasting effects on the planet. In recent years, those effects are being felt more commonly and frequently by people in Alberta. Severe storms, wildfire and floods have left their mark across communities in Alberta. Remote and Indigenous communities are particularly at a heighted risk of climate and weather events from their close relationship and dependence on the land, their physical distance from resources and limited infrastructure to respond to events.
Below are specific examples of changing conditions in Alberta.
Climate modeling
Securing Protective Measures
As the climate gets hotter and drier, the soil will no longer be able to support the same kind of plant life and those plants will not be able to support the same kind of animal life. Climate modelling for Alberta shows a northward shift of most of the province’s ecoregions over the next 100 years. In this time period, Alberta will loose large swaths of its boreal forest; meanwhile, grasslands and parklands will take over the province. Alberta’s lands will also become more homogenous over this time, meaning we will loose a lot of our current biodiversity.
These three maps are a predictive model from R. Schneider (2013), which compares current natural subregions in Alberta to the predicted natural subregions in Alberta in 2050 and 2080, based on current climate and emissions scenarios.
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The Biodiversity Loss Crisis: Wildlife and Species At Risk
The other ‘twin’ of the twin crises is the biodiversity loss crisis which refers to species loss, their habitat and the overall decline of all livings. In Alberta, caribou, bison and native trout face varying threats to their population health and to rapidly fragmented habitat. By conserving and improving connectivity of their habitat, we can ensure the survival of our beloved species in Alberta.
Mitigate & Adapt to Climate Change
Nature-based Climate Solutions
Nature-based solutions to climate change seek to increase the resiliency of the natural ecosystems we rely on by strengthening the relationships between species and their habitats. Often, this is achieved through the conservation and restoration of landscapes.
Nature-based approaches are often called “no-regret” options, meaning that the measures are useful even if the effects of climate change do not materialize as predicted. For example, helping to stem the loss of biodiversity across the globe. Nature-based approaches are often more cost-effective in the long-term than other solutions and can produce important socio-economic benefits for the environment, communities, and local economies. Nature-based solutions already exist, we just need to scale them up!
Parks and Protected Areas Tools for Nature Protection
Parks and Protected areas are an important tool for nature protection: not only can they protect sensitive species but they can create safe avenues for the every day person to sustainably enjoy nature. There are federal and international definitions of what constitutes land to be considered "protected".
This is especially important to consider with Parks and Public Land Use Zone (PLUZs) where the sole focus of the region may not be nature protection but may include recreation, agricultural, or development uses. In Alberta, only 15% of land is considered to be a park or a protected area, a long shot from the 30% needed to meet international nature protection goals.
Benefits in Protecting Intact Ecosystems
Protecting intact ecosystems is one of the best nature-based approaches to mitigate and adapt to climate change and has many benefits for ecosystems, wildlife and communities. Below are examples of these benefits. You’ll notice that many of these are from helping nature flourish!
Reduce Habitat Loss
Nature-based climate solutions can reduce stressors to wildlife such as habitat loss by reducing or completely preventing human impacts.Undisturbed Carbon Sinks
Forests, soils and wetlands can act as carbon sinks. Peatlands, a type of wetland, store massive carbon stores that if disturbed would be released in the atmosphere.Increase Vegetation Resiliency
They increase resiliency of flora and fauna in the face of climate change by providing safeguarded spaces where other disturbances to their survival are limited, limiting plant or animals to one stressor rather than many.Bolster Species Adaptability
They increase resiliency of flora and fauna in the face of climate change by providing safeguarded spaces where other disturbances to their survival are limited, limiting plant or animals to one stressor rather than many.Refugia
Many species are displaced from climate change or human disturbance. Nature-based climate solutions can provide refugia (buffer zones) for wildlife species.Learn more
Parks & Protected Areas in Alberta
Parks and Protected areas in Alberta only cover about 15% of the province and are small and disconnected. When comparing them to current natural subregions, it is clear that the spread of parks and protected areas is not representative of the province’s biodiversity. Parks and protected areas can be an essential tool in leveraging the nature-based climate solutions in Alberta.
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Move conservation forward in Alberta.
Lasting protection for nature and wildlife in Alberta doesn’t happen overnight (although we wish it did)! Your donation fuels our fight for nature. Donate to support CPAWS Northern Alberta’s conservation efforts.