Why Adapt?

Climate change cannot be reversed within our, or our children’s lifetimes. Global warming has already taken place. Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases today, the Earth would keep warming for hundreds of years. That’s because greenhouse gasses stay in the atmosphere for a very long time – which also means the effects of that warming will continue.

So what can we do? We can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we can adapt.

Climate change adaptation means taking steps to reduce vulnerability to current or future climate impacts and to build resilience. Adaptation helps sectors that are important to the region — such as fishing, forestry and tourism — thrive despite the changing climate. It also helps people and communities stay safe, protect their homes, roads and other important infrastructure from the hazards of climate change.

Across Atlantic Canada, we are seeing the effects of climate change:

• Rising sea levels are driving increased coastal erosion and more frequent flooding in low-lying communities, with up to 1 metre of sea-level rise expected by 2100 and 2 metres or more by 2150
• Stronger and more frequent coastal storms are increasing storm surges, accelerating destructive flooding and erosion along our coastlines
• Changing winter conditions, including the likely loss of winter sea ice in areas like the Gulf of St. Lawrence, are further exposing coastlines to erosion, and making it more difficult for Indigenous people in Labrador to pursue their traditional way of life
• Warming, acidifying, and deoxygenating oceans are reshaping marine ecosystems, affecting fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal livelihoods
• Shifting precipitation patterns are leading to more intense rainfall events, increasing flood risks inland
• Hotter, drier summers are raising the risk of drought, water shortages, and wells running dry, as well as increased wildfire activity

When it comes to climate change, understanding what puts us at risk is key. It also helps to understand that risk is made up of three elements:

• Hazard – “What could happen?”
  • A hazard is a change or event that can cause harm. With climate change, hazards are things like rising sea levels, stronger storms, flooding, heat waves, or wildfires
  • Example: Rising sea level is a hazard
• Exposure – “What is in harm’s way?”
  • Exposure is about how likely it is that people, homes, or infrastructure will be affected by a hazard. This depends on where things are located
  • Example: For rising sea levels, exposure is higher in low-lying coastal communities or places with roads, homes, or businesses near the shore
• Vulnerability – “How hard will it be to cope with the outcome of this risk?”
  • Vulnerability describes how well a community can prepare for, respond to, and recover from an event. Communities with fewer resources, limited services, or older infrastructure may be more affected
  • Example: A coastal community without emergency supports or flood protection may be more vulnerable to coastal flooding caused by rising sea levels

While we alone can’t stop climate change, we can lower the risks. By making smart choices about where and how we build, how we plan, and how we prepare, we can lower our exposure and vulnerability, and better protect people and places as the climate continues to change.

Adaptation is about taking steps to reduce harm from a changing climate and, where possible, to make the most of new opportunities. Adaptation activities won’t  solve every issue but, even small changes can make a real difference.

Adaptation looks different for everyone.  For instance:

• For coastal areas, it might mean strengthening roads and power lines so they’re less vulnerable to storms, or using nature-based approaches like dunes or wetlands to provide a buffer against flooding and erosion
• In agriculture, it could mean using cover crops and rotational grazing to improve soil health, reduce erosion after heavy rain, and manage rising feed costs
• When it comes to infrastructure, it could involve cleaning storm drains, upgrading sewer systems, and adding swales, rain gardens, or naturalized stormwater management ponds to reduce flooding
• In the healthcare sector, it might mean installing cooling systems in homes and public spaces to protect people during extreme heat

Ultimately, adaptation helps create safer, healthier and more prosperous communities for everyone. Preparing for extreme weather events ahead of time saves money in repair costs while protecting property, livelihoods and ecosystems. It also means keeping up as adaptation knowledge evolves. When we find approaches that work, we need to learn from them and build on those lessons to help Atlantic Canada prepare for what lies ahead.