The climate is changing but the sea remains stronger than us. So it’s up to us to change our habits starting now.
Climate changes are long-term changes in the Earth’s climate- air and ocean temperatures, prevailing winds and marine currents, and precipitation (rain and snow) levels- which are directly or indirectly caused by human activity such as the burning of fossil fuels and land use. As a result of these activities, changes occur more quickly than they would naturally.
Air and ocean warming have caused glaciers to melt and water in the oceans to expand, which raises the average sea level.
“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, and sea level has risen.”
The relative sea level in the Acadian Peninsula is projected to rise by about 70 cm by 2100.
Climate change in the Acadian Peninsula will result in a higher sea level, a reduced ice cover and more frequent and intense storms. These three conditions combined will result in mode rapid coastal erosion, and increasingly more frequent coastal flooding, thereby posing a risk to public safety and infrastructures. Damage to transportation, electricity, water and sewer infrastructures, as well as municipal and private buildings can be expected.
Sources:
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2014: https://www.ipcc.ch.
Daigle, R. J. 2014. Updated sea-level rise and flooding estimates for New Brunswick coastal sections based on IPCC 5th assessment report. R.J. Daigle Enviro.
Leys, V and Bryce D. 2016. Adapting to climate change in coastal communities of the Atlantic Provinces, Canada: Land use planning and engineering and natural approaches. Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Association
