Homework Question on Climate Change in far North of Canada
Description Canada is a country of regions, each with its own unique histories and contemporary challenges. Many of these challenges are centered on environmental degradation, which is often pitted against the local economy. Regional geographical analysis enables us to assess the importance of such environmental issues, as each problem has often been the result of unique economic, social and ecological forces. It is important to understand that economic advancements can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment and society. Recognizing how the historical development of a region, in conjunction with social and economic factors can influence the development of an environmental problem is important in order to make informed decisions about potential solutions. For example, although the Athabasca Tar Sands are known to be causing many health and environmental problems for the region around Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, it has certain social and economic benefits for the country as a whole. The situation has evolved from a complex number of factors as well. This can be said for many of Canada’s most controversial environmental, political and economic issues.
- Assignment will help you understand one of Canada’s many issues from an integrative and holistic regional point of view, investigating the economic, political and social history underlying some of Canada’s most important environmental challenges.
- You are required to choose a regional environmental issue and outline the history, current importance, and the interplay of this issue in terms of the local and global economy, as well as the health and well-being of the region’s population.
Homework Answer on Climate Change in far North of Canada
History of climate change in the near and far North of Canada
One of the greatest concerns in society today is the continuous change in climate, which has had adverse impacts on aspects such as physical landscape, health and well-being of populations, and local and global economies. Climate change is defined as the long-term shifts in the statics of weather, and this is inclusive of its averages. Its main characteristics include increases in global average temperature, also referred to as global warming, melting of ice caps and glaciers, changes in cloud cover and precipitation especially over land, as well as increases in ocean temperature and acidity.
Canada, especially the northern part, has over the years experienced changes associated with climate. For instance, lakes and rivers in Northern Canada have gradually undergone freezing, which has made the construction and maintenance of ice roads difficult (Furgal and Terry 246). The usage of roads in the region has reduced significantly from 50-60 days to as low as 20 days in some years, and this is attributed to climate change. Other than freezing of lakes and rivers as a result of extremely low temperatures, Northern Canada has also experienced a significant rise in temperatures over the years, which has led to melting of ice and in turn, an increase in sea levels.
Despite having only 0.5 percent of the global population, Canada contributes a whopping 2 percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions, which has attributed to the rise in temperatures in the region. In 2005, for instance, slightly over 23 tonnes of greenhouse gases were emitted for each person in the country, an 8 percent increase since 1990.