Implications of climate change for economic development in northern Canada: energy, resource, and transportation sectors.
Northern Canada is projected to experience major changes to its climate, which will have major implications for northern economic development. Some of these, such as mining and oil and gas development, have experienced rapid expansion in recent years and are likely to expand further, partly as the result of indirect effects of changing climate. This article reviews how a changing climate will affect several economic sectors including the hydroelectric, oil and gas, and mining industries as well as infrastructure and transportation, both marine and freshwater. Of particular importance to all sectors are projected changes in the cryosphere, which will create both problems and opportunities. Potential adaptation strategies that could be used to minimize the negative impacts created by a climate change are also reviewed.
Prowse
Terry D
TD
Water and Climate Impacts Research Centre, Environment Canada, Department of Geography, University of Victoria, BC. terry.prowse@ec.gc.caa
Furgal
Chris
C
Chouinard
Rebecca
R
Melling
Humfrey
H
Milburn
David
D
Smith
Sharon L
SL
D001110:Arctic Regions; D002170:Canada; D002980:Climate; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D005648:Fuel Oils; D005742:Gasoline; D046448:Ice Cover; D008906:Mining; D015876:Northern Territory; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods*
D005648:Fuel Oils; D005742:Gasoline