Climate Changes Effects on Alberta

Forest fires, drought, disease

Climate change study warns province to prepare for spike in natural disasters

Keith Gerein

The Edmonton Journal

Friday, July 11, 2008

CREDIT: Reuters, file A farmer cuts his drought-stunted oat crop near Cochrane in 2002. A report warns Alberta is headed for more of the same.

EDMONTON – More forest fires, unreliable water supplies, volatile farming conditions and the emergence of unfamiliar diseases — these are among the impacts Albertans can expect from a warming climate, a new report to the provincial government says.

The three-year study, one of the first to assess the vulnerability of Alberta’s communities and industries to climate change, suggests the province must act quickly with new infrastructure and planning if it hopes to successfully adapt to the changing conditions.

“The message is that we will still be able to enjoy a high quality of life, but we must move forward with adaptation and mitigation strategies starting today,” said University of Alberta researcher Debra Davidson, one of the lead authors.