Climate change and the adaptability of Canadian Prairie Cities

Cities are considered to be one of the top four regions in Canada likely to have the greatest impact from climate change. Climate affects most urban sectors including human safety, comfort, economic performance and energy efficiency. The overall objective of the work is to assess the robustness of the urban decision making processes as related to short (about one to five years) and to longer (more than fifty years) term climatic variations. This work assesses the role of climate and the adaptability of eight Canadian Prairie cities to climatic change and variations.

This work focuses on the water cycle as it affects cities. There are three orders of impacts through the projected higher temperatures and variable precipitation levels. The first order impacts include the direct consequences for other environmental processes closely linked to the atmosphere (stream flow, snow cover, water level, etc.). The second order impacts include the next step consequences such as effects on water supply, transportation, parks and recreation departments. The third order impacts indicate how each department can affect other sectors and their budgetary situations. Cities have the capacity to adapt to climate change and variations in six ways. These are bearing (accepting), modifying, preventing and avoiding the effects, plus undertaking research and education. Thus the impacts of climate change are both far reaching and widespread.