Written by: Florence Daviet, National Director, Forest Program

Why does CPAWS follow what’s happening with federal climate change policy? It might seem far removed from our focus on conservation and the creation of protected areas, but these topics are deeply intertwined.

The following are three ways in which conservation and climate change are linked and how they can be integrated into climate change policy moving forward.

• Our ecosystems are at the mercy of climate change. Already we are seeing dramatic examples of how the changes in climate are impacting the north, from reports of new species making their way to the Yukon , to the dramatic shifting of landscapes and coastlines due to the melting and slumping of permafrost.  Droughts and changes in the timing and amount of precipitation are another way in which climate change impacts are being felt in Canada.
  
  One of the best ways to protect our ecosystems is to implement climate change policy that limits the increase in global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. CPAWS is supportive of the federal government’s work in reducing emissions. The more we allow greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to increase, the more difficult it will be for our ecosystems to adapt to the new climate.
   
• Our ecosystems play an important role in mitigating climate change. Trees, soils, plants, and the ocean all help to absorb the emissions that humans emit when burning fossil fuels and limestone. It is estimated that plant life and the ocean have absorbed over half of the carbon dioxide emitted by humans to date.  The rest stays in the atmosphere and results in climate change.
  
  When our ecosystems are degraded by industrial activities, the carbon stored within the ecosystem (known as biogenic carbon emissions) is released and the ecosystem’s ability to absorb carbon afterwards is often diminished. For example, in Alberta there are more than 10,000 km forest areas that were cleared for oil and gas exploration. Decades have passed and the forests have never regrown. The grass that covers the area does not sequester and store as much carbon as it would if covered with trees.
  
  One of the things CPAWS is working on is encouraging Canada to count the biogenic carbon emissions  resulting from human activities. This is needed to make sure climate change policies don’t inadvertently increase biogenic carbon while seeking to reduce fossil fuel emissions . This will ensure that when conservation actions are being taken to either reduce emissions, increase sequestration, or keep carbon stored that these can also be recognized as climate change actions. 
  
  We also want to make sure that activities undertaken to reduce emissions don’t have a negative impact on biodiversity. While there are many examples of activities that are a win-win for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation, there are others that may not be such a perfect match. We think it is important to focus our resources where you get both benefits.
   
• Healthy, functioning ecosystems are key to our ability to adapt to climate change. As the climate changes, we can all expect to see more dramatic weather events. Droughts, flooding, and higher storm surges are all examples of impacts Canadians are seeing already. Maintaining and restoring ecosystems, such as wetlands and riparian forest areas, have been shown to be effective and often cost-effective adaptation approaches.
  
  CPAWS is working across Canada to identify nature-based solutions that will help ecosystems and humans be more resilient to climate change.
  
  The federal government is moving forward with a policy to help reduce the impacts from climate change. At the end of June, ECCC posted options for how companies looking to meet the climate targets could comply. Read CPAWS’ comments