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Anthropogenic Stressors and Management in the Canadian Shield

     

  Anthropogenic Stressors

Baffin Island

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in 2007 Fourth Assessment Report that there is now unequivocal evidence that the world’s climate has warmed and a 90% probability that anthropogenic GHG emissions have caused most of the warming since the mid-20th century (Fisk et al., 2005). The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the globe, and these changes are already affecting the life of the people of the North. Permafrost is less reliable; animal ranges are changing, making hunting more difficult; and sea ice loss is drawing increased interest to resources in the Arctic Ocean (Fisk, et al., 2005). The dominant product of fossil fuel combustion is carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. The overall effect of human activities since the Industrial Revolution has been a warming effect, driven primarily by emissions of carbon dioxide and enhanced by emissions of other greenhouse gases (Canada, 2019).  It is likely that more than half of the observed warming in Canada is due to human influence. The effects of natural internal climate variability on Canadian temperature trends differ in different parts of Canada, enhancing the warming trend in the western Canada and reducing the warming trend in eastern Canada over the past half of the 20th century (Canada, 2019).


Source: Mapping climate change | Canadian Geographic

Montcerf-Lytton

Human activity has made the weather wetter in a large slice of the Northern Hemisphere, say researchers (Cressey, 2007). Agriculture and human health have already been affected, Francis Zwiers of the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis in Toronto and his colleagues report in Nature (Cressey, 2007). In the zone between 40 and 70 °N, which includes much of North America and most of Europe, rainfall increased by 62 millimeters per century between 1925 and 1999. The researchers estimate that between 50 and 85% of this increase can be attributed to human activity (Cressey, 2007). 
Source: Mapping climate change | Canadian Geographic

Big Falls

Source: Minnesota Climate Trends (state.mn.us)

The primary profession in Koochiching County, Minnesota, where Big Falls is found, is manufacturing (Data USA). the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that in 2018, industry accounted for 22% of U.S. GHG emissions, as compared to 12% for residential and commercial  (The Fabricator). Yield losses affect not only performance and productivity, but also the amount of energy used and the carbon footprint. Typical yield losses are: Equipment breakdown/failure, Planned stoppages, Idling of cycle or machinery, Reduced speed, Production defects (The Fabricator). The manufacturing industry near Big Falls could potentially be contributing to the gradual increase in maximum temperatures in the area over the past century. 



Expected Impacts

Baffin Island

Annual and seasonal mean temperatures across Canada have increased, with the greatest warming occurring in winter. Between 1948 and 2016, the best estimate of mean annual temperature increase is 1.7ºC for Canada as a whole and 2.3ºC for northern Canada (Government of Canada). It is likely that more than half of the observed warming in Canada is due to the influence of human activities. There is a 33% probability that anthropogenic influence increased Canadian temperature by at least 0.9ºC (Government of Canada). Changes to snow, water, ice and permafrost will have a significant impact on Arctic freshwater and near-shore marine systems. Future climate change in the polar regions will produce feedback effects that will have globally significant consequences over the next 100 years (The Arctic: Environmental Issues). Reductions in the extent and amount of sea ice are predicted to alter the seasonal distributions, geographic ranges, migration patterns, nutritional status, reproductive success and abundance of Arctic marine mammals. For instance, many species inhabiting regions covered by seasonal sea ice rely directly on suitable ice for resting, foraging, pupping and moulting (The Arctic: Environmental Issues). 

Montcerf-Lytton

The changing frequency of temperature and precipitation extremes can be expected to lead to a change in the likelihood of events such as wildfires, droughts, and floods (Government of Canada). Biodiversity is changing dramatically in the North, the result of overharvesting, global habitat loss in wintering and staging grounds used by migratory species, and, most significantly, climate change (The Arctic: Environmental Issues). "In the far north we've seen an increase in average rainfall," he adds. "That will have increased stream flow in rivers, which may have increased flooding in those regions (Cressey, 2007). 

Big Falls

Warming temperatures in and around Big Falls, Minnesota due to climate change can be expected to negatively impact the habitat of many local plant and wildlife species. Bryan Leuth, deer hunter and DNR Wildlife Habitat Manager, says delayed winter freeze-up prevents access to state wildlife management areas where he has hunted for many years (Minnesota DNR). There have also been projections made that walleye will fade from smaller, warmer lakes, as higher temperatures lead to a loss of natural walleye reproduction (Minnesota DNR). These are only a couple of examples of the degradation of habitat we can expect to see around Big Falls if climate change continues to occur at its current rate. 

Conservation Plans

Baffin Island

The Canadian Arctic's approach to mitigating the effects of climate change is complex and unique. Generally, the basis for change in the area is at the community level, integrating the responsibilities for all levels of government (Whitby). Because climate change work is at the community level, it influences the daily decisions of members (Whitby). This attitude toward the impacts of climate change sets a great example for people in other regions of the world. Their government's approach to climate change also sets a great example for other governments, as theirs had promised to develop a comprehensive strategy for the North that will protect the northern environment, while working with territorial governments and with Northerners and Aboriginals (Whitby). 

Montcerf-Lytton

Setting a price on carbon has been an important measure for reducing GHG emissions in Quebec. In 2013, Québec established a carbon market which has been linked to California’s since January 2014, and is now the largest carbon market in North America (The fight against climate change: A win-win for Québec and the planet). The carbon market’s aim is to encourage businesses and citizens to adjust their behavior in an effort to reduce GHG emissions. The revenue which is generated from the carbon market is deposited into a France based climate change fund, and is invested in measures that enable Québec to reduce its GHG emissions, better adapt to the impacts of climate change and accelerate its shift to a strong low-carbon economy (The fight against climate change: A win-win for Québec and the planet).  

Big Falls

Prairies, forests and wetlands in and around Big Falls, as well as in other parts of Minnesota, provide essential services to its residents, including habitat for wildlife and pollinators, flood protection, and water filtration (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources). To ensure that these features are effectively managed in a way which will mitigate he negative impacts of stressors like climate change, state officials acknowledge the importance of assessing and monitoring these habitats for change over time . As of 2016, the DNR’s Minnesota Biological Survey has established a statewide network of ecological monitoring sites (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources). The first phase of the project is developing the monitoring network design and sampling methods, as well as collecting and testing field data in over 100 sites (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources). This project will provide data on long-term changes in habitat, which will aid in decision-making regarding the conservation of Minnesota's plant and wildlife habitats. The objective approach Minnesota DNR has taken to mitigating climate change has the potential to be an effective one. The next step will be convincing policy makers to implement reactive regulation policies based on the information acquired from the monitoring project. 

References

Canada, E. and C. C. (2019, March 28). Government of Canada. Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/causes.html.

Cressey, D. (2007, July 23). Rainfall changes linked to human activity. Nature News. https://www.nature.com/news/2007/070723/full/070723-4.html.

Fisk, A. T., de Wit, C. A., Wayland, M., Kuzyk, Z. Z., Burgess, N., Letcher, R., … Muir, D. C. G. (2005). An assessment of the toxicological significance of anthropogenic contaminants in Canadian arctic wildlife. Science of The Total Environment, 351-352, 57–93. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.01.051 

Government of Canada. (n.d.). Canada's Changing Climate Report. https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/energy/Climate-change/pdf/CCCR_Chapter4-Temperature%20and%20Precipitation%20Across%20Canada.pdf.

How the manufacturing industry can minimize its carbon footprint. The Fabricators. (n.d.). https://www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/shopmanagement/how-the-manufacturing-industry-can-minimize-its-carbon-footprint.

Koochiching County, MN. Data USA. (n.d.). https://datausa.io/profile/geo/koochiching-county-mn/#:~:text=The%20largest%20industries%20in%20Koochiching%20County%2C%20MN%20are,paying%20industries%20are%20Public%20Administration%20%28%2465%2C474%29%2C%20Utilities%20%28%2463%5D.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Climate Change Fact Sheet. Minnesota's Climate is Already Changing (state.mn.us)

Research publications. The Arctic: Environmental Issues. (n.d.). https://bdp.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/200804E.

The fight against climate change: A win-win for Québec and the planet! (n.d.). https://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/changementsclimatiques/index-en.htm.

What DNR is doing. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. (n.d.). https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/climate_change_info/what-dnr-doing.html.

Whitby, L. (n.d.). Climate Change in the Canadian Arctic: A Community Approach. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. . https://www.oecd.org/env/cc/33993822.pdf.












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