ESSA’s Jimena Eyzaguirre and Cedar Morton Dive Into The International Dimensions of Canada’s Response to Climate Change for the The National Issues Report.

The National Issues Report led by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) for the Government of Canada was recently published and provides a national overview of how climate change impacts our lives as Canadians. From communities, the environment, the economy, and beyond, this report identifies and demonstrates how we are adapting to climate change. ESSA’s Jimena Eyzaguirre was the Coordinating Lead of the International Dimensions chapter (Chapter 9) along with ESSA’s Cedar Morton, who was a lead author. This chapter looks at the indirect impacts of climate change, and assesses the risks and opportunities for Canada. The focus was on Arctic shipping and sovereignty over the northwest passage.

The key takeaways are:

• Climate change affects arctic shipping and threatens sovereignty due to increased marine traffic through the northwest passage as a result of shrinking sea ice. Canada must strengthen rules and capacities to provide effective stewardship of the passage.
• Transboundary marine and freshwater agreements generally do not consider climate change. Canada has an opportunity to show leadership in protecting shared resources though adaptive practices while preserving long term cooperation.
• Climate change presents risks and opportunities for international trade. Extreme weather and climate change impacts and adaptation will economically affect Canada, especially with countries with which Canada has strong trade relationships.
• Human migration and displacement due to climate change will increase immigration to Canada. Migrants from climate-disrupted regions especially in Least Developed Countries will create internal and external pressure for Canada to accept larger numbers of migrants.
• Increased demand for international assistance from Canada for developing countries is expected. This includes providing financial and technical assistance for adaptation and climate resilience.

Jimena and Cedar’s contribution to the National Issues Report is critical to understanding the impact of climate change with international dimensions, and how to forecast potential risks and adapt to these changes. Although much more research is needed, particularly as it relates to international trade, there is a need to begin laying the groundwork for adaptation and addressing the weaknesses identified. This report reflects ESSA’s mission, which is dedicated to bringing together people, science, and analytical tools to sustain healthy ecosystems and human communities. We envision a world where creativity, a focus on learning, and systems-thinking are the foundation of solutions to environmental challenges. To read the full article, click here.