Information on Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most important environmental issues of our time, requiring urgent action on the part of all governments and citizens.

Climate change is a long-term shift in climate measured by changes in temperature, precipitation, winds, and other indicators. Climate change can involve both changes in average conditions and changes in variability, including, for example, changes in extreme conditions.

The potential impacts of climate change are far-reaching, affecting our economy, infrastructure, and health, the landscapes around us, and the wildlife that inhabit them.

Climate change can be caused by both natural processes and human activities, in particular those that alter the chemical composition of the atmosphere. The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is the primary cause for concern about climate change now and into the immediate future. Particularly important is the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is released through the combustion of fossil fuels. In Canada, 80 percent of total national greenhouse gas emissions are associated with the production or consumption of fossil fuels for energy purposes. Globally, Canada accounts for about two percent of total annual greenhouse gas emissions.

To understand how climate change impacts our health and environment, it is important to learn more about the earth's climate system and the greenhouse effect.