(Chapter 3—Adapting to Climate Impacts—Fall 2010 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
Ottawa, 7 December 2010—Despite repeated commitments, most recently in 2007, the government has yet to put in place a federal strategy for adapting to the impacts of a changing climate, says Scott Vaughan, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, in his Report tabled today in the House of Commons. Impacts range from more severe weather events in Atlantic Canada to prolonged drought in the Prairies, from greater losses of Canada’s boreal forests from pests and forest fires, to the thawing of permafrost in Canada’s North.
“The government has stated that climate change impacts are inevitable, and are already happening,” said Mr. Vaughan. “The health of Canadians and Canada’s natural environment, communities, and economy are vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate, and the government is not ready to respond to them.”
The lack of a federal strategy and action plan has hindered departments’ efforts to coordinate actions to address the effects of climate change. The audit found that for the most part, the departments examined have identified and assessed the potential impacts of climate change on their assets and program activities, but that they have taken few concrete steps, such as adjusting or developing policies and programs, to respond to these impacts.
The audit also found that the programs examined are doing a good job of generating information to identify climate change impacts at the regional and local levels and their potential impacts on such things as community infrastructure, human health and the environment. At the same time, these programs cannot meet the increasing demand from Canadians for information, and for assistance in interpreting it. The government has not at this time made any decisions regarding the future of these programs.
“Adapting to climate change requires sustained leadership that includes a federal strategy and plan comprising concrete actions to both inform Canadians of climate impacts and help them adapt to our changing climate,” said Mr. Vaughan.
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The chapter “Adapting to Climate Impacts” is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Web site.
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