Government of Canada
2002/104
September 9, 2002
HOW WILL WATER RESOURCES BE MANAGED IN A CHANGING CLIMATE?
MONTRÉAL — Research to help us adapt to climate
change gets a boost today. The Government of Canada officially announced the
opening of an office at McGill University to facilitate research into the effects
of climate change on Canada’s water resources, and to develop ways to
better manage water in a changing climate.
The Government of Canada is investing $625,000 over five years to support
the Water Resources sector of the Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research
Network (C-CIARN Water Resources). In addition, the Government is contributing
$651,000 for seven research projects, in partnership with institutions across
the country, to study topics such as water management, groundwater sustainability
and impacts of climate change on hydroelectricity generation.
“C-CIARN Water Resources focuses on the practical needs of research
on water resources,” said the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural
Resources Canada. “The recent World Summit on Sustainable Development
drew our attention to the impacts of human activity on our resources and our
climate. C-CIARN Water Resources will facilitate research to minimize these
impacts on Canada’s water resources and help maintain our quality of life.”
“Water is essential to life, but our water resources are especially
vulnerable to the effects of climate change. That is why we are taking action,”
said the Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment. “This
network will help all of us improve and share our knowledge of what climate
change means in practice to our communities.”
C-CIARN is a network of six regional and seven sectoral offices in which the
Government of Canada is investing $10 million. This network is encouraging partnerships
with universities, government agencies, the private sector and non-governmental
organizations who are engaged in studying climate change impacts on water resources,
or in managing water in various ecosystems, including urban and rural areas.
It facilitates research on climate change impacts and adaptation across scientific
disciplines; provides one window for contacts, data and information on impacts
and adaptation research; and identifies research gaps, priorities and capacity
needs.
C-CIARN Water Resources, housed at the Brace Centre for Water Resources Management
at McGill University, opened in January 2002. It is sponsoring a two-day workshop
in Montréal on September 9 and 10, 2002, which focuses on identifying
priority issues related to climate change and water resources, and determining
possible options for adapting to these impacts.
Federal funding for C-CIARN is provided for in the Government of Canada’s
December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.
The funding for this initiative builds on the Government of Canada’s $1.5-billion
commitment to help address climate change and implement energy-efficient initiatives,
as well as its commitments to supporting research and development, and to ensuring
a clean, healthy environment, which are essential elements of our quality of
life.
For more information, media may contact:
Heather Bala
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
(613) 996-7252
Kelly Morgan
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441
The following media backgrounder is also available:
- Research Projects on Water Resources
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