Implications of Climate Change for Economic Development in Northern Canada: Energy, Resource, and Transportation Sectors

Abstract

Northern Canada is projected to experience major changes to its climate, which will have major implications for northern economic development. Some of these, such as mining and oil and gas development, have experienced rapid expansion in recent years and are likely to expand further, partly as the result of indirect effects of changing climate. This article reviews how a changing climate will affect several economic sectors including the hydroelectric, oil and gas, and mining industries as well as infrastructure and transportation, both marine and freshwater. Of particular importance to all sectors are projected changes in the cryosphere, which will create both problems and opportunities. Potential adaptation strategies that could be used to minimize the negative impacts created by a climate change are also reviewed.

Variability and change in the Canadian cryosphere

“…There are also implications for natural resource development as ice roads provide essential access to exploration sites and allow the re-supply of mineral and hydrocarbon production sites (Prowse et al 2009;Furgal and Prowse 2008). Delayed freeze-up and earlier break-up of lake and river ice mean that mines in the Slave Province of the Northwest Territories that depend on ice roads will be faced with shorter operating periods to transport supplies to mine sites.…”

“…Delayed freeze-up and earlier break-up of lake and river ice mean that mines in the Slave Province of the Northwest Territories that depend on ice roads will be faced with shorter operating periods to transport supplies to mine sites. Adaptation options, such as the construction of all season roads, may need to be considered (Prowse et al 2009). Many northern communities depend on rivers and lakes for travel and hunting activities that will be impacted by changing climate.…”

“…Smith et al 2001). Incorporation of climate change into engineering design becomes particularly important for infrastructure that must maintain its integrity over several years, or where the consequences of failure is high, such as for waste containment structures (Prowse et al 2009). The development of guidelines for climate change adaptation with respect to infrastructure on permafrost (Canadian Standards Association 2010) has benefited from the increased knowledge of permafrost conditions generated through Canadian IPY activities.…”

“…Infrastructure and transportation systems have been designed around or with consideration of the cryosphere. Economic activities, including natural resource development, must consider the challenges presented by the cryosphere for the design, construction, and operation of infrastructure, and cryospheric change must be factored into the assessment of the potential environmental impacts of development and economic activity (Prowse et al 2009;Furgal and Prowse 2008).…”

Wistful thinking: Making Inuit labour and the Nanisivik mine near Ikpiarjuk (Arctic Bay), northern Baffin Island

“…This history and the impacts of mining on northern people and landscapes have received increasing attention in recent years in response to the perception-in relation to climate change, land claims, and other developments-that mining and oil and gas development are the economic future of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (MacPherson 2003;Prowse et al 2009). Legacies of mining in the Canadian Arctic and Aboriginal participation have been examined from different perspectives.…”