State of Environment Reporting

Climate Change in British Columbia

Change in Average 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.

During the 20th century, coastal British Columbia warmed by 0.5 to 0.6°C, about the same as the global average. The central and southern interior regions warmed by 1.1°C, or twice the global average. In northern British Columbia, the warming trend of 1.7°C is nearly three times the global average. Climate models predict further warming in British Columbia at the rate of 1-4°C in this century, with the interior warming faster than the coast.

Potential impacts of increasing atmospheric temperatures include: change in river temperatures and flow patterns resulting in disruption of salmon migration and spawning, spread of pests, such as mountain pine beetle, and reduced soil moisture in some areas.