Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: The Prairie Adaptation Research Cooperative Mark Johnston Forest Ecosystems Branch, Environment and Resource Management Agriculture and Climate Change Meeting, Saskatoon SK 12 December 2000

CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION FUND 1998 federal budget provides $150 million over three years (ends March 31, 2001). Extended for 3 more years in 2000 budget Objectives –build public awareness and understanding –engage Canadians in local actions –lay the foundation for meeting Canada’s commitments

CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION FUND Four components…. –1 Technology Early Action Measures (TEAM) –2 Foundation Analysis Sector Tables to provide options - will be analyzed and incorporated in a National Implementation Strategy –3 Public Outreach –4 Science, Impacts and Adaptation improve knowledge of the climate system, assess impacts, options for adaptation Seed Money - builds on existing work, projects require leverage - a spur to action - not the whole solution

Science, Impacts and Adaptation SCIENCE = climate system science climate history and dynamics climate modelling climate scenarios IMPACTS = physical, biological, social and economic impacts of climate and climate change ADAPTATION = response (autonomous or anticipatory) to climate impacts PARC

Mitigation and Adaptation

Degree to which adjustments are possible in practices, processes, or structures of systems to projected or actual changes of climate Adaptation can be spontaneous or planned and can be carried out in response to, or in anticipation of changes in conditions. ADAPTATION: Represents a practical means of accommodating current climatic variability and extreme events, as well as adjusting to longer term climatic change. NECESSARY TO: 1 - minimize the negative impacts of future climate changes 2 - take advantage of new opportunities that may be presented

What are the potential impacts ? Who is vulnerable to climate change and to what extent ? What have been the past successes (and failures) in adaptation ? On the basis of our experience, what impacts can be reduced by adaptation ? What are the barriers to adaptation and can they be removed ? Questions to address

Climatic Sensitivity We can only determine the impacts to which we will have to adapt if we fully understand the climatic sensitivities (dynamics, thresholds, response times, etc.) While determining these sensitivities requires an intensive research program, it does NOT required detailed prior knowledge of future climate change. VULNERABILITY depends upon both the sensitivity and adaptability of a system. CCPB 1999

Prairie Adaptation Research Cooperative A facilitative, interdisciplinary research cooperative addressing climate change impacts and adaptation in the Prairie Provinces The first operational node of the Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network (C-CIARN) Formally Announced: Friday, March 24, 2000

Director and Research Coordinators PARC - A Distributed Regional Network

PARC Priorities 1 - facilitation and coordination of collaborative research among sectors and disciplines. 2 - act as a focal point for professional development of Highly Qualified Personnel. 3 - assist in development of adaptation strategies that have practical application in decision making. 4 - ensure that the geographic and sectoral diversity of the prairie provinces is well represented. 5 - assist in the development of other nodes of C-CIARN to better address regional priorities within national issues.

PARC Research Program Quick-Start projects limited number of research projects received early funding. Initiated to give PARC immediate profile. Generally used to enhance ongoing initiatives or stimulate adaptation work in key areas (e.g. groundwater) Calls for Proposals open call in April 2000 ($1M), another in planning stages. 32 projects funded - details at all proposals are subject to full peer review - evaluation includes opportunities for training and contributing to a coordinated research program.

PARC Research will: be interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral. There is a need to expand beyond scope of traditional research. address BOTH climate change impacts and adaptation. Individual projects may have different emphases, but both components must be present. contribute to a coordinated regional research program and the integration of biophysical, social and economic analyses. help build the capacity required in this emerging field of national priority.

PARC – current status STRUCTURE (when fully operational) Governed by a Board composed of senior representatives from government (federal and provinces) and industry (“users”). Provides general direction. Advised by a technical committee. Staffed by a Director and four Research Coordinators (sectoral focus to be determined) FUNDING $3M for 2 years starting 1999/2000 from special allocation of CCAF – future budget depends on CCAF allocation $400,000 from WED in form of rent at PTRC (Regina)

PARC SUMMARY 1 - to address impacts of climate change in Prairie Provinces and identify potential adaptive response. Does NOT encompass mitigation or climate system science. 2 - to establish partnerships between government, universities, industry and other organizations to focus on adaptation strategies that have practical application. 3 - to develop a coordinated research program that addresses regional priorities while contributing to a national network. Emphasis on HQP. A Challenge and an Opportunity