Close X
Sunday, December 15, 2024
ADVT 
National

Northwest Territories Bears Daily Witness To Impact Of Climate Change: Bob McLeod

The Canadian Press, 13 Jan, 2016 11:32 AM
    OTTAWA — The premier of the Northwest Territories doesn't see climate change as a ticking time bomb — in his part of the country, it's already gone off.
     
    Canada's North is at the forefront of climate change and its effects can be seen with the naked eye on a daily basis, Bob McLeod said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
     
    Warmer temperatures have led to a host of changes, including a shifting tree line, problems with the territory's winter road network and significant impacts on the caribou population, McLeod said.
     
    "I could go on and on," he said. "We have permafrost ... that's melting. It is affecting our buildings and our housing so we have to change our building techniques."
     
    Climate change has also contributed to the disappearance of certain fish species, McLeod noted. "We are seeing wildlife species foreign to this area ... moving further north from the south like cougar and whitetail deer."
     
    He also suggested the territory is at the mercy of outside efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
     
    "We are doing our part, but I mean, in the larger scheme of things, we are very small emitters of CO2 (carbon dioxide) gases," McLeod said.
     
    "Obviously we are dependent on national and international actions to reduce the overall emissions of greenhouses gases."
     
    McLeod said he looks forward to participating in upcoming discussions with the federal government as it prepares to hammer out a national climate change strategy along with the provinces and other territories.
     
    "From all accounts, the prime minister has indicated that the government of Canada is going to take a much more active leadership role working ... closely with the provinces and territories, so I was heartened by that," he said.
     
    "I was also heartened by the fact that Canada contributed significantly to help developing countries to deal with climate change. We are hopeful he will take the same approach with developing territories to help us deal with the effects of greenhouse gases that are largely not our own doing."
     
    The annual average temperature has increased 1.6 degrees C, or twice the global average, since 1948, according to briefing documents prepared for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
     
    Canada's North has warmed by about three times the global average — a boost of 2.2 C, the documents note.
     
    "I remember 20 years ago, I had the opportunity to make a presentation to a Senate committee on climate change," McLeod said. "I look back to some of things I talked about. Most of it has come true."
     
    McLeod recalled a senator asking if he would be happy to see warmer temperatures in the North.
     
    "I said 'No, the reason we live up here is because we like the cold weather and we like our four seasons," he said.
     
    "So it is unnerving to ... have temperatures in the single digits in January ... you wonder what the world is coming to."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    $460-Million Settlement For Victims Of Lac Megantic Disaster Fully Funded

    $460-Million Settlement For Victims Of Lac Megantic Disaster Fully Funded
    Officials responsible for bankruptcy proceedings related to the Lac-Megantic rail disaster say a $460-million settlement is fully funded and that cheques for the families of victims should start flowing in the new year.

    $460-Million Settlement For Victims Of Lac Megantic Disaster Fully Funded

    Parks Canada Launching 2016 Campground Reservation System In January

    Parks Canada Launching 2016 Campground Reservation System In January
     Parks Canada is launching its campground reservation system in January — three months earlier than it did in 2015 — to give people more time to plan their summer vacations.

    Parks Canada Launching 2016 Campground Reservation System In January

    Manitoba's Attorney General Says Province Is Ready For A Transgender Judge

    Manitoba's Attorney General Says Province Is Ready For A Transgender Judge
    WINNIPEG — Manitoba's attorney general says his province is ready for its first transgender judge, and possibly the first transgender judge in Canada.

    Manitoba's Attorney General Says Province Is Ready For A Transgender Judge

    Justice minister to review extradition case following top court ruling

    Justice minister to review extradition case following top court ruling
    The woman's ex-husband reported his three minor children missing in Georgia in 2010 as he had sole custody and the mother had no visitation rights.

    Justice minister to review extradition case following top court ruling

    October's No-Growth GDP May Spur Bank Of Canada To Cut Interest Rates: Economists

    October's No-Growth GDP May Spur Bank Of Canada To Cut Interest Rates: Economists
    Canada's economy didn't grow in October, and that has analysts wondering if the central bank could be eyeing another cut to its key lending rate.

    October's No-Growth GDP May Spur Bank Of Canada To Cut Interest Rates: Economists

    A Look At How Real Home Life Has Changed Over The Years, While The Ideal Of 'Home' Hasn't

    A Look At How Real Home Life Has Changed Over The Years, While The Ideal Of 'Home' Hasn't
    She looks at changes in technology, such as plumbing and toilets, tableware and furniture, windows and window dressings, light bulbs and kitchen gadgets, as well as changes in culture, such as marriage patterns, hopes and customs.

    A Look At How Real Home Life Has Changed Over The Years, While The Ideal Of 'Home' Hasn't