FAQs

Climate change refers to the long-term changes in global temperatures and weather patterns. 

While the earth’s climate has changed throughout history, we are currently experiencing a level of warming shown to be caused by human activity through the burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gasses (GHGs). 

These greenhouse gasses trap heat from the sun and cause Earth’s temperatures to rise, which results in changes to various weather patterns, influences ocean systems and sea levels and disrupts ecological systems.

Climate Adaptation is actions taken to minimize or prevent damage caused by climate change induced weather events. This could include actions to reduce the exposure or vulnerability to environmental, social, and economic functions of the community.

Examples could include planting more trees to increase shading from extreme heat or installing infrastructure to manage water runoff and prevent flooding during extreme rain events.

Climate Mitigation refers to the actions taken to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions to help slow the pace of global warming. 

Examples of climate mitigation could include switching from fossil fuel heating sources such as oil and gas to renewable energy technology, such as geothermal or solar.

99% of climate scientists agree that climate change is already occurring, and is primarily caused by emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

This consensus is supported by extensive research from scientists around the world, science academies, peer-reviewed literature, and physical climate-related changes that are being observed - including rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and sheet ice.

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change.

Created in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the objective of the IPCC is to provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies.

In 2016, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's Paris Agreement was enacted to limit the warming of the Earth to 1.5 degrees Celsius (globally we are already at approximately 1.2 degrees warmer than the pre-industrial period). Canada is a signatory to the Paris Agreement.