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Background Document to Support the Climate Change and Clean Energy Regional Workshops in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut

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Background Document to Support the Climate Change and Clean Energy Regional Workshops in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut BACKGROUND DOCUMENT TO SUPPORT THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLEAN ENERGY REGIONAL WORKSHOPS IN NUNAVIK AND NUNATSIAVUT PARTICIPANT BOOKLET Working Document AUTHORS Robert Siron, Ouranos Caroline Larrivée, Ouranos COLLABORATORS AND REVIEWERS Report submitted to the Government of Canada Valérie Bourduas Crouhen (Ouranos) and coordinated by Ouranos in collaboration Beatriz Osorio (Ouranos) with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Stéphanie Bleau (Ouranos) Health Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Alexandre-Guy Côté (ECCC) Canada and Makivik Corporation. Marc-Antoine Giroux (ECCC) The authors would also like to extend special thanks to Cheenar Shah from James Ford’s Climate Change Adaptation Research Group at McGill University for her help in identifying some resources mentioned in this document. CONSORTIUM ON REGIONAL CLIMATOLOGY AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE We also thank the Kativik Regional Government 550 Sherbrooke W. 19th floor, West Tower and the Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee Montréal, Québec H3Q 1B9 for their support in preparing this document. EDITING Pro-Actif TRANSLATION (FRENCH) Lise Malo Suggested citation: Siron, R. and Larrivée, C., (2016). Background document to support the Climate Change and Clean Energy Regional Workshops in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut. Working document submitted to the Government of Canada. Montreal: Ouranos. 26 p. YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Inukjuak Kawawachikamach TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 PART 1. Climate change impacts for Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and Naskapi communities. An overview of the major findings based on research, science and traditional knowledge 5 PART 2. Main initiatives on climate change in Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and Naskapi territories related to adaptation and resilience, GHG emissions mitigation, infrastructure and innovation and clean technology 7 Government of Canada programs and policies 8 Provincial government programs and policies 10 Regional government initiatives 14 Other initiatives of interest 15 CONCLUSION 19 APPENDIX 21 Glossary 21 References 23 Background document to support the Climate Change and 2 Clean Energy Regional Workshops in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut - Participant booklet INTRODUCTION In December 2015, at the Conference of the Parties to the Because of the life cycle of greenhouse gases (10 to over United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 100 years) and the rate of emissions, it is crucial to not only (COP21) in Paris, Canada, alongside 194 other participating reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) but also to adapt countries, agreed to take steps to support the transition to a to inevitable changes3. global low-carbon economy that would help limit the global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius above Northern populations are affected by climate change because pre-industrial levels. they are dependent on the ecosystems that provide goods and service for the health, culture and well-being of Inuit and Naskapi On March 3rd, 2016, Canada’s First Ministers released a declaration Nations. The integrity and resilience of ecosystems are however on clean growth and climate change, which stated that «…building negatively affected by climate change. In addition, these northern on commitments and actions already taken by provinces and regions are facing increasing pressure and cumulative impacts territories and the momentum from COP21 in Paris, we are from modernization, industrialization and a more open access to moving toward a pan-Canadian framework for clean growth and remote areas. climate change that will meet or exceed Canada’s international emissions targets, and will transition our country to a stronger, This working document provides a synthesis of knowledge and more resilient, low-carbon economy – while also improving our main research findings on the impacts of climate change for quality of life.»1 Nunavik, Nunatsiavut and Naskapi territories, and provides an overview of the existing strategies and initiatives to address The Government of Canada is therefore working with provinces, climate change-related issues. territories and regions to develop actions towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and Definitions of the concepts in this document can be found in the adapting to climate change impacts. glossary of terms used (Appendix 1). The Arctic is the region in the world where climate change is and will be the most pronounced. Evidence from different sources already shows very substantial warming since the past 60 years and it is recognized that Arctic regions will warm more rapidly compared to the global average2. Background document to support the Climate Change and Clean Energy Regional Workshops in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut - Participant booklet 3 Figure : Recent observations and projections (Horizon 2080) of the average winter temperature (2m). Climate model projections are driven with a scenario of high-level GHG concentrations (i.e. following the IPCC Representative Concentration Pathway - RCP8.5). (Figure from Travis Logan, Ouranos). More information and data available in Ouranos (2015). PART 1. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS FOR NUNAVIK, NUNATSIAVUT AND NASKAPI COMMUNITIES. AN OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS BASED ON RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE An increase in average annual temperatures at the global scale This warming has and will have direct consequences13 such as: will translate into much higher temperature increases in northern › Ecosystems and wildlife: Climate change is affecting wildlife regions such as the Eastern Arctic (Nunavik and Nunatsiavut) habitats, species life cycles and harvesting practices. Climate with impacts already being observed. Nunavik and Nunatsiavut change was also observed to be producing effects on fish, are experiencing rapid warming4. (e.g. Arctic charr), seal, eider duck, as well as species-at-risk, › Average annual temperature could increase by up to 5.8°C in such as freshwater harbor seal, peregrine falcon and beluga14. the North of Quebec by mid-century. In addition, berry production is predicted to decline under increased shrub cover15. → In Winter, this increase could be even higher, reaching up to 9°C for the same time period. The temperature → Species migration patterns (e.g. migrating caribou) will will continue to increase and at the end of this century, shift due to climate change, but predictions of these climate models project that the increase could reach changes are still uncertain16. around 15°C in Winter in northern Quebec5 (see figure on → These are important gaps in knowledge since they affect previous page). food resources. › An increase in the maximum annual amount of precipitation is expected for northern Québec and Labrador. → A significant increase in all indicators of abundant and extreme precipitation is expected and will be more substantial in the North than in the South6. › Average flows are also expected to increase by about 12 % in northern Quebec by mid-century. → Flow increases will occur in Spring and Fall.7 Impacts of climate change and related › Sea ice cover is diminishing in its extent, thickness duration factors on the migrating caribou and stability8. Large caribou herd populations are declining17. Results from → By 2050, the ice-free period will be about two months several studies18 suggest that: longer for the Hudson Bay. › An early spring or delayed onset of winter are observed to → The Arctic Ocean will be largely ice-free in September have an impact on the departure and arrival dates of the before 2050 according to the high emission scenario9 herds in both Spring and Fall season. → Seasonal changes observed in the ice regimes modify the › Conversely, when winter arrives late, the absence of coastal and fjord landscapes10. snow may facilitate the animals’ movements during Fall › The coasts of the Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay will likely migration. Heavy snow can also cause the Fall migration be more impacted by severe storms, surges and extreme to end earlier. water levels as the sea-ice cover protecting the coast will › Expected climate changes could affect the migratory be reduced11. caribou populations of Quebec and Labrador, › Year-round reductions in Arctic sea ice are projected and this especially by delaying the arrival of the females on the contributes to accelerate warming12. calving grounds.19 Background document to support the Climate Change and Clean Energy Regional Workshops in Nunavik and Nunatsiavut - Participant booklet 5 › Health and well-being: Food insecurity, water and food-borne diseases and contaminant pathways are critical challenges. → Rapid climate change is affecting the quality of country foods and the ability to access it. → A high number of Inuit families with children are already food insecure20 → Increased solar radiation due to climate change and the potential for skin related health problems is also an issue in Nunatsiavut21 Arctic charr and increasing → Reduced access to land and resources are also leading water temperature to mental health impacts through several interconnected pathways (anxiety, depression, stress)22. Arctic charr is an important food resource at risk23. Fishway facilities on the Nepihjee River, near Kuujjuaq, served › Infrastructure and transportation: to build upon an existing monitoring database to gather → In Nunavik, higher temperatures and precipitation improved information about the effects of temperature contribute to the thawing of permafrost upon which variations on the growth of local fish and to advise the buildings, roads and
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