Canada faces irreversible climate impacts as temperatures continue to rise

The impacts of climate change in Canada are now largely irreversible, with average temperatures expected to rise by at least 3.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, according to a new federal government report.

The report, released Thursday by Environment and Climate Change Canada, is the second major assessment examining changes to the country’s climate. It was prepared by nearly two dozen government and climate science experts.

The findings warn that even if the world achieves net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2075, Canada will continue to experience significant climate impacts.

The report projects that the area burned by wildfires could increase by nearly 50 per cent, while glaciers in Western Canada could lose more than 75 per cent of their mass.

Ryan Ness, adaptation research director at the Canadian Climate Institute, said the findings highlight a significant gap between the climate impacts Canada is expected to face and the level of action currently being taken by governments.

The report underscores the need for both efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stronger measures to prepare communities for increasingly severe climate impacts.