Environmental Trends 2002

Climate Change

Average Change in Air Temperature (oC per century)

SOURCE: Data from Environment Canada. Analysis by Canadian Institute for Climate Studies, 2001, for Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. NOTES: A positive sign indicates a warming trend. All values are statistically significant at the 95 percent level. The data do not show statistically significant trends for northeastern BC.

Status and trends in climate change

• During the 20th century, coastal British Columbia warmed by 0.5°C to 0.6 °C – or at about the same rate as the global average. The central and southern interior regions warmed by 1.1°C, or twice the global average. Trends for coastal and southern BC and the interior are based on 100 years of data and are likely the result of climate change.

• The warming trend of 1.7°C for northern BC is nearly three times the global average. This trend is based on only 52 years of data and may therefore reflect natural climate variability as well as climate change.

Why is it important?

• Warmer average temperatures affect other parts of the climate system. In British Columbia, the impacts may include increased precipitation and evaporation, changes in the snowpack, warmer coastal waters, and greater year-to-year variability in climate.
• Climate change affects related physical systems. In British Columbia the impacts may include receding glaciers, earlier spring ice breakup, earlier river discharge, warmer river temperatures, reduced soil moisture in some areas, and higher sea levels.
• Changes in physical systems affect biological systems. In British Columbia, the impacts may include disruption of salmon migration and spawning, the spread of pests such as mountain pine beetle and diseases, and changes in the distribution of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species.
• Heat-related and respiratory illnesses may also increase.

What is being done?

• The British Columbia government is preparing a provincial adaptation strategy to respond to the impacts of climate change.

• The government has released a report that documents recent climate trends and impacts in British Columbia.

• The government is also identifying ways in which climate change affects provincial programs for managing water quality and supply, fish, wildlife and habitats.

• The provincial government, in partnership with universities and the federal government, is promoting research into climate change impacts and adaptations.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth report.