Understanding the impacts of climate change

Our climate is changing and will continue to change in the coming decades. Individuals, businesses, communities, and governments need to work together to assess and manage the risks and opportunities of New Brunswick's changing climate. With a changing climate we can expect to experience more heat waves, new pests and invasive species, flood damage from heavy rainfall events, power outages from high winds, and rising sea levels which have already increased the risk of coastal flooding and erosion.

Listed below are recent publications and resources that provide information on the impacts of climate change in New Brunswick and other Canadian locations, on our communities, environment, and economy; and how we can adapt to these changes in the years ahead.

NB Climate Change Indicators 
The New Brunswick Climate Change Indicators website provides local information on past historical trends that indicates how the climate is changing and how it’s affecting New Brunswick.

NB Climate Projections Data and Maps

The most recent AR5 projections climate datasets and maps for New Brunswick were obtained through a partnership with Ouranos, a Consortium on Regional Climatology and Adaptation to Climate Change in Quebec. 

There are 29 climate indices for the province of New Brunswick. All data and maps provide baseline records over the 1980-2010 period from historical observation records, and include climate projections for 2020, 2050, and 2080 time horizons based on Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 4.5 and 8.5.

• RCP8.5: high global emission scenario. This scenario indicates global average warming levels of 3.2 to 5.4°C by 2090.
• RCP4.5: medium global emission scenario, includes measures to limit (mitigate) climate change. This scenario indicates global average warming levels of 1.7 to 3.2°C by 2090.

The climate projections indices show a substantial increase in mean temperature over all seasons for the 2020, 2050, and 2080 time horizons.  An increase is expected for very hot days (maximum temperature higher than 30 °C) for most parts of the province especially during the time horizon of 2080. Growing season lengths are expected to vary for the whole province and the accumulations of rain and snow are expected to increase during winter and spring seasons.

Climate change projection datasets can be used:

• when developing climate change adaptation plans by considering historical data and what to expect from projected climate conditions;
• To identify the potential vulnerabilities and opportunities from the changing climate,
• To assess vulnerabilities and propose adaptation measures
• To assess adaptation options and evaluate outcomes.

The following resources would allow users the opportunity to explore projected climate change datasets, tools, and guidance documents of New Brunswick.

• New Brunswick’s Future Climate Projections AR5 Data and Maps technical report describes the evolution of 29 climate indices relevant to New Brunswick over this century. This includes projections for mean temperature, changes in agricultural indices such as growing season length and precipitation.
• Spatial Averaged Projection Datasets for Municipalities and EcoRegions projection data are available as charts or maps and are presented by regions and municipalities, ecodistricts or watersheds.
• The Sea Level Rise and Flooding Estimates for New Brunswick Coastal Sections report includes updated sea-level rise estimates and flooding scenarios (to 2100) based on the most recent Climate Change science. The sea level rise projected flooding scenarios informs the worst case flooding extent (i.e. maximum projected storm surge and resulting flooding for 1:100 year event).   
  
  

The GeoNB Applications section provides easy access to geographic information, LiDAR data, historical coastal erosion data, and historical flood information, which serve as additional resources for Climate Change adaptation planning.  

• LiDAR Data
• Historical Coastal Erosion Data
• Historical Flood Information, more information on Flooding in New Brunswick
  
  

Canada's Changing Climate Report
Canada’s Changing Climate Report (CCCR), led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, is the first major report of the current National Assessment. The report highlights how and why Canada’s climate has changed, what changes are projected for the future and how we are adapting to reduce anticipated risks.
 

Canadian Centre for Climate Services
The Canadian Centre for Climate Services provide access to climate information, tools, and trainings from across the country.

ClimateData.ca.
Climate Data.Ca is a component of the Canadian Centre for Climate Services, which provides easy access to climate data and tools.