ECCC reports that climate change worsened summer heat waves across Canada, impacting millions and increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events.
Ottawa: So, it turns out that this past summer’s heat waves in Canada were even worse because of climate change. The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) folks took a good look at the data and found that human activities made these heat waves hotter and more frequent.
They set up a system to quickly analyze extreme weather events, comparing today’s climate to what it was like before industrial times. This helps show how our actions are changing the weather we experience now.
During their review, they looked at 37 major heat waves across 17 regions from June to September. They found that climate change made some of these events much more likely to happen. In fact, a few were at least ten times more likely due to human influence.
Starting this winter, ECCC plans to expand their system to look at extreme cold and heavy precipitation events too. They believe understanding these connections can help us better prepare for and respond to weather emergencies.
They also pointed out that the costs of extreme weather are significant, affecting everything from productivity to lives lost. With climate-related events becoming more common, it’s crucial to grasp what’s causing these changes.
In recent years, Canada has seen a rise in severe weather events, with 2023 being the second-warmest year on record since 1948. The average temperature has increased by 2°C over the years, and the financial impact of these events has skyrocketed.
