Government of Canada
2001/60
September 6, 2001

STUDY LEADS TO BETTER UNDERSTANDING
OF CLIMATE CHANGE

CHARLOTTETOWN — A new leading-edge method for forecasting storm surges will help Prince Edward Islanders be better prepared for potential damage and coastal flooding due to major storms. This is one of the results of a Government of Canada-funded study of the rise in sea level in areas around Charlottetown and Rustico that will increase our understanding of the effects of climate change. The results of the study were announced today by Shawn Murphy, MP for Hillsborough, on behalf of Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, and David Anderson, Minister of Environment.

Government of Canada funding of $350,000 for the study came from the Science, Impacts and Adaptation component of the Government of Canada's Climate Change Action Fund. An additional $250,000 was contributed through in-kind support from federal government departments and other project partners.

"We're already seeing the effects of climate change," said Mr. Murphy. "For example, during the January 2000 storm important parts of downtown Charlottetown were flooded. This study will allow us to forecast future changes to the PEI coastline, predict potential social and economic impacts, and better protect the public."

The study indicates that sea levels at Charlottetown may rise by close to three-quarters of a metre over the next 100 years, nearly double the rate recorded since the early 1900s. It also predicts that the erosion rate along the North Shore of Prince Edward Island is expected to double by 2100. Other potential impacts of climate change include damage to residential and commercial properties and to public infrastructure.

The new forecasting model, developed at Dalhousie University and operated by Environment Canada, is able to predict storm surges to within ten centimetres the day before a storm. Additional measures to minimize the effects of sea-level rise and climate change were also examined. Options include raising building foundations, substituting bridges for causeways, coastal dune rehabilitation, various planning and zoning measures, and increased public education.

"When it comes to climate change, Canadians need accurate, up-to-date information," said Minister Goodale. "What we learned from this study will help us predict the local effects of climate change and plan our responses well in advance."

"This study is one of the first to track the changes in coastal areas," said Minister Anderson. "This information is immediately useful to the people of P.E.I. As well, the study methods used are transferable to other coastal regions, both in Canada and internationally."

This study, funded by the Climate Change Action Fund, brought together a team from Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, Dalhousie University, the Centre of Geographic Sciences of the Nova Scotia Community College and the City of Charlottetown.

The $150-million Climate Change Action Fund was established in the 1998-99 federal budget and extended for a further three years in the 2000 federal budget. It was established by the Government of Canada to create partnerships that will lead to a deeper understanding of climate change as well as action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

For more information, media may contact:

Pat Breton
Press Secretary
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 996-2007

Kelly Morgan
Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 953-2101

For more information on Canada's climate change initiatives, please visit www.climatechange.gc.ca.