'More and more urgent': Governments unprepared for effects of climate change, study finds
National governments are unprepared to adapt to the consequences of the climate crisis, according to a meta-analysis of more than 1,500 scientific papers.
While natural disasters are becoming more frequent, the analysis states that the majority of actions documented in the scientific literature have been taken at the local level, by households or individuals.
Of course, the issues vary enormously from one region to another, which does not allow for a panacea.
However, "there is still not a sufficient level of centralized leadership in terms of government policy and funding," explained Concordia University assistant professor and study co-author Alexandra Lesnikowski.
"It's something that's becoming more and more urgent," she said, noting that Canada has recently experienced "really catastrophic events" such as the heat waves, forest fires, floods, rising sea levels and the melting of permafrost.
Nevertheless, Lsenikowski remains optimistic about the direction Canada is taking.
"We have seen some parts of the country take strong action more quickly," she said.
Canada has had a Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund since 2018.
In the fall, the federal government will present its first National Adaptation Strategy.
"We need much clearer policy targets on adaptation," she said. "We need to start thinking about what that means in concrete terms for different parts of the country."
By comparison, France created its first of two adaptation plans in 2011, while the United Kingdom did the same in 2013.
The United States still does not have one.
LEAVE OR STAY?
Adapting to the climate crisis involves a host of small details to consider when it comes to urban planning, said Lesnikowski.
Take heat waves, for example. While it's important to "make sure our health care system can handle it," she said many other steps should be taken.
It's also necessary to provide air-conditioned public spaces, to plant trees in neighbourhoods that have few, and even "change the types of materials in our buildings so they absorb less heat."
Even so, adjustments like these won't always be enough, Lesnikowski warned.
In the case of floods such as those that struck Quebec in recent years, there are indeed ways to limit the damage, such as "building our homes a little differently."
But we must also determine "if there are places that are now too dangerous to live in," she said -- places where all the measures in the world will never be enough.
Moreover, according to the results of the analysis, "few studies attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures" that are taken.
Not being sure whether a solution actually works could therefore cause problems in the future, Lesnikowski explained, as time is working against us.
In any case, "it's also immensely important to keep in mind that different communities will be disproportionately affected by climate change because of factors like inequity, poverty, etc.," she added.
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
It's still possible to adapt to impending changes, but only if air pollution is adequately reduced, Lesnikowski said.
"It's a reality we're already living with, but the severity of the risks is something we still have the power to change," she said. "The future is not set in stone."
Chances will be improved "if we can meet the targets we have set for reducing greenhouse gases," she said.
The paper, called A systematic global stocktake of evidence on human adaptation to climate change, was published in November 2021 in the Nature Climate Change Journal.
This report was first published in French by The Canadian Press on Aug. 14, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.