Federal report says climate-change impacts in Canada are now largely irreversible

OTTAWA — A new Environment and Climate Change Canada report says the impacts of climate change in Canada are now largely irreversible and that average temperatures are expected to rise by at least 3.5 C by the end of the century.

The report, the department’s second examination of changes to Canada’s climate, was written by nearly two dozen government and climate-science experts. It says that even if the world reaches net-zero emissions by 2075, the area burned by wildfires in Canada will rise by nearly 50 per cent and glaciers in Western Canada will lose more than 75 per cent of their mass.

Under current policies, Canada’s average temperature is projected to increase by 5 C by 2100. The report puts the chance of winter temperatures rising by more than 10 C across much of Nunavut at 50 per cent.

Ryan Ness, adaptation research director at the Canadian Climate Institute, said Canada is falling behind in preparing for the changes. He said more must be done to protect communities from growing wildfire and flood risks in the years ahead.