Communities Adapting to Changing Climate in Far North Ontario
Working through the Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR) on the Laurentian campus, David Pearson is working on climate change issues with Tribal Councils and communities in Far North Ontario.
As of July, 2019 the OCCIAR has re-launched as the Climate Risk Institute.
Funding from NRCan has enabled climate vulnerability and changing climate risk assessments in four Far North Ontario communities: Fort Severn, Fort Hope, Webequie, and Constance Lake. Collecting community knowledge of changes in weather patterns is under way, along with workshops, community meetings, and technical work of various kinds related to impacts of severe weather events, changing seasonal weather patterns, warmer winters and other factors on community infrastructure and well-being. Draft Changing Climate Adaptation Plans will be produced in collaboration with Chief and Council and members of each of the four communities by the end of September 2012.
Puddles of meltwater in Fort Severn at + 8˚C March 21, 2012 …. About 20C warmer than usual on the first day of Spring.