2023 was the warmest year on record for the planet. Gordon McBean, Western professor emeritus recognized for his many global efforts as well states: “Canada, with its large land mass, much at higher northern latitudes, is warming twice as fast as the global average – and the Canadian Arctic, three to four times faster.” Adding to this urgency is that heat waves are magnified in Canadian cities. He maintains Canada must prioritize its commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement with transparency and climate change adaptation action to address the impacts of severe weather, extreme heat, floods, and tornados. All Canadians must do their part as an engaged public, educated on climate science, to ensure key policy instruments are implemented. Paul Kovacs of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction saw firsthand in 2023 and commented that Canada is experiencing close to $7 billion in direct damage from floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and other extreme climate events. Natural disaster reimbursement costs are more readily available, whereas extreme heat health costs are absorbed into healthcare system expenditures or borne by society.
The federal government lists several health risks from extreme heat events. Heat waves can occur anywhere in Canada but are most common in southern regions. Those particularly vulnerable include seniors, children, Indigenous Peoples, those living in high-air-pollution areas, those experiencing social isolation, those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma or cardiac disease, people experiencing homelessness, newcomers, and those active outside with sports or work. Extreme heat warnings happen frequently in Winnipeg, Ottawa, Halifax, Toronto, and Montreal.
Indirect risks impact food security, stresses on housing and settlements, infectious disease distribution, water quality, patterns of population migration and displacement, economic livelihoods, and impoverishment. Canadian Climate Institute’s research finds rising temperatures also drive down work productivity and hurt the economy. Prolonged extreme heat can lead to power outages as heavy demands for air conditioning strain the power grid. The New York Times recently discussed how Canadian hydroelectric plants had faced lower water levels because of recent rain and snowdrops. Electricity use is expected to climb with the increase in electric heat pumps, cars, and industrial equipment.
Longer-term events include drought, as heatwaves and droughts are closely related. As heat dries out soils, it further increases temperatures. Earth Sciences professor and Canada Research Chair in Climate Change Risk and Resilience, Yanping Li, reports: “In the Prairies, increased temperatures and reduced precipitation can exacerbate drought conditions for crop production, impacting water availability for irrigation. Conversely, Eastern Canada may experience increased precipitation, leading to waterlogging, delayed planting, and increased erosion. The North might benefit from longer growing seasons (higher CO2 levels) but also faces thawing permafrost and increased pest populations.” Flash floods can damage crops, wash away topsoil, and delay planting, while drought limits water availability for crops, reduces yields given plant dehydration, injures livestock, and increases fires. More sustainable agricultural practices must include adding or retaining soil organic matter, reducing tillage, and using cover crops. Activities such as creating biochar as a soil supplement, agrivoltaics – solar installs to reduce farm operational costs, and extended berry seasons grown in agrotunnels are helping.
The Canadian Climate Institute identifies flooding as Canada’s most common natural hazard, with 80% of Canadian cities built partly on flood plains and 10% of homes at high risk of flooding. Improved flood risk transparency entails the mapping, disclosing, and pricing of flood risk to help communities determine how best to avoid, mitigate, or absorb damages and losses due to flooding. Public Safety Canada states flooding can happen anywhere in Canada at any time of year. Many of Canada’s biggest cities – including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa-Gatineau, and Fredericton – are in high-risk flood areas.
Natural Resources Canada reports Canada’s 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive ever recorded, triggered by record-high temperatures and widespread drought conditions nationwide. In 2023, Canadian wildfires burned 184,961 square kilometers or about 5% of the entire forest area of Canada. Unlike previous years, 2023 fires were widespread all across Canada. Canada needs to reduce fossil fuel consumption and adapt further fire management and mitigation strategies, including controlled burns, revised forestry guidelines, and procedures to manage fuel around communities and infrastructure.
Health Canada researches and sends heat alert response strategies to the public, media, communities, emergency management managers, and healthcare providers, collecting evaluation data. Environment Canada issues advanced heat warnings and weather alerts. In June 2023, a national adaptation plan was released. Natural Resources Canada’s Fire Weather Index estimates the fire danger level and oversees fire management protocols. Provinces and territories list emergency responses. Local governments deliver heat emergency response plans.
In 2021, the Canadian Climate Institute reported the costs of heat-related deaths. The reduced quality of life from extreme heat in Canada would range from $3 billion to $3.9 billion per year by mid-century. They have identified several steps to protect people from extreme heat. For example:
- Make buildings safer by installing indoor cooling devices (i.e., heat pumps or air conditioning).
- Plant green roofs and trees for shade in urban areas to address urban intensification problems.
- Give employers and the public early information on keeping safe during extreme heat waves.
- Design infrastructure such as roads, railways, and electricity systems to withstand extreme heat.
- Extreme heat is not a future threat—it’s here, and the impacts are severe.
This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Canada Country Manager Diane Szoller.