Introduction

This essay is based on the environmental sustainability and climate change in Canada. The summer that followed was the hottest on record in Canada few years back, leading to catastrophic fires and the unexpected deaths of thousands. Fighting climate change is more important than ever before for Canadians and people everywhere. In the following sections, essay typer Canada and discussions about climate change, Canadian administrative policies, environmental sustainability, challenges and opportunities international commitment, and recommendations. In the end, there will be a conclusion based on this essay.

Climate Change on the Ecosystem of Canada

The geographic range and appropriateness of habitat for numerous animal and plant species in Canada is shifting as a result of warming temperatures and changing patterns of precipitation. As a result of climate change, certain species are relocating farther north or to higher altitudes (Boulanger et al. 2022). Predator-prey dynamics, resource rivalry, and the extinction of certain species are all things that may be affected by a shift in the distribution of animals.
Climate change is altering the functioning of ecosystems in Canada, upsetting an otherwise stable environment. Climate change has the potential to alter the timing of important biological processes including blooming, migration, and hibernation. These changes may have far-reaching consequences for the web of life, influencing processes like pollination, embryo dissemination, and food availability.
Canada’s Arctic area is especially susceptible to the effects of climate change due to the melting of glaciers and sea ice. The disappearance of glaciers among sea ice has several negative consequences, including increased sea levels and a loss of habitats for polar bears, the seals, and other Arctic marine animals (Magnan et al., 2022). The degradation of ecosystems and the instability of land are further consequences of melting permafrost.
Wildfires, insect infestations, and the spread of disease are just some of the forest disturbances that are becoming more common and destructive as a result of climate change. Widespread forest loss may result from these disturbances, which in turn threatens forest biodiversity, the storage of carbon, and the ecological services trees offer.

Figure 1: Climate change in Canada statistics

(Source: statista, 2021)

Canadian administrative policies and initiatives

Carbon pricing

Carbon pricing has been implemented by the federal government as a primary policy instrument for lowering GHG emissions. A nationwide price on carbon emissions is included in the “Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change” (Devisscher et al., 2021). The goal of this strategy is to hasten the use of renewable energy sources and lower businesses’ carbon footprints.

Growth of Alternative Energy Sources

Canada has set lofty goals for the expansion of its renewable energy sector and provide online assignment help Canada. Programs and incentives have been set up at both the provincial and federal levels to encourage the use of sources of clean energy including solar, hydroelectricity, wind power, and biomass (Anderson & Gough, 2021). Sustainable energy production is prioritized, and efforts are being made to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases.

Protection of Natural Resources and Animals

Canada’s federal government has established laws and conservation initiatives to safeguard the country’s natural resources and wildlife populations. Species-at-risk laws and the creation of protected places like national forests and nature preserves are two ways to help save vanishing animals and plants. The preservation of forests and the safeguarding of freshwater supplies are two other areas of concern.

Lower emission

In an effort to lower emissions form the transportation industry, Canada is supporting environmentally friendly transport projects (Carroll & Ray, 2021). Promotion for electric car uptake through subsidies and charging infrastructure development; encouragement of alternative forms of transportation like cycling as well as walking; funding for transportation systems.

Managing Garbage and Reusing Materials

Waste management industry recycling are strongly supported by Canadian law and policy. Manufacturers are made responsible for their goods’ recycling and destruction via expanded manufacturer accountability schemes. Plastic bags and other trash reduction techniques are among the activities aimed at decreasing plastic consumption and increasing the circular economy.

Challenges and opportunities

Challenges

The Arctic, maritime, and boreal habitats of Canada are under threat from climate change. Nature, habitat destruction, and ecosystem stability are all under threat as a result of rising temperatures, melting permafrost, shifting patterns of rainfall, and more severe storms.
Climate change has the greatest impact on Indigenous Canadians, who are deeply rooted in the land and rely on its resources (McKinney et al., 2022). These people group battle with food security, social heritage, and customary practices. In climate change adaptation and mitigation, indigenous knowledge and empowerment are crucial.
Climate change is difficult in Canada because of its reliance on fossil fuels. In a low-carbon economy, it is necessary to balance economic growth, energy security, and job creation through planning, investment in renewable energy, and sustainable technology.

Figure 2: Canada climate change adoption platform

(Source: niagaraknowledgeexchange, 2021)

Opportunities

Abound in Canada in the forms of biomass, wind, solar, and hydropower. Greenhouse gas emissions may be reduced, clean energy jobs may be created, and energy security may be enhanced by these resources. The nation’s clean energy potential can be tapped by continuing investment in renewable energy infrastructure and research and development.
Canada safeguards natural heritage and biodiversity (Carroll & Noss, 2021). Protected areas, intact ecosystems, and sustainable forest management all help to reduce the effects of climate change, store carbon, and preserve vital habitats.
Entrepreneurship and innovation are strengths of Canada. Sustainable consumption and production, green technology, and sustainable agriculture all have the potential to boost economic expansion and lessen environmental damage.
To address climate change, Canada can collaborate with partners abroad. Sharing data, best practices, and assets might speed environmental change transformation, advance reasonable turn of events, and decrease ozone-harming substance outflows.

International commitment to environmental sustain abilities and collaboration

Cooperation Across Borders

Canada is able to contribute in assignment writing help and global environmental objectives via partnerships like the “UN Environment Programme (UNEP)”, “UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)”, and other regional cooperation (Royer-Tardif et al. 2021).

Protection of Natural Resources and Animals

Canada is a leader in global environmental protection. Canada backs international efforts to protect biodiversity and achieve sustainable development via programs like the “Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)”.

Public awareness and future aspects

Canada is becoming more aware of climate change in the future. Through campaigns, the media, and education, Canadians are learning about the causes, effects, and urgency of climate change. Mindfulness energizes liability and activity.

Attitudes and behaviors toward sustainability are shifting as a result of public awareness.

Canadians are reducing their waste, utilizing renewable energy, and making responsible choices regarding their transportation and consumption. This behavioral change is necessary for decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases and increasing sustainability.

Children in Canada are increasingly calling for action to address climate change. The youth climate strike and Fridays for the Future have raised awareness of climate change and the need for immediate action (Greaves, 2021). Policy can be influenced and a low-carbon world can be created by young Canadian activists.

Governments are increasingly expected to take action on climate change. Canadians need strong strategies, environmentally friendly power speculations, carbon evaluating, and maintainable turn of events. Governments must prioritize climate change, make significant efforts to reduce emissions, and transition to a sustainable economy as public awareness and demand for action grow.

Stakeholder cooperation is encouraged by public awareness. Governments, businesses, non-profits, and citizens are collaborating on innovative climate change solutions (Murphy et al., 2021). Climate change responses are enhanced by community initiatives, knowledge-sharing platforms, public-private partnerships, and collaborations.

Recommendation

To guarantee Canada’s role in global efforts in reducing temperature rise to well under 2 degrees Celsius, greater emissions reduction goals in line with the most recent climate science must be established and enforced. Check-in on a regular basis to evaluate the development and adjust objectives.
Investing in clean energy sources like solar, wind, and water power may speed up the shift to a low-carbon society (Boulanger & Pascual Puigdevall, 2021). Promoting renewable energy initiatives, enhancing energy efficiency, and funding cutting-edge clean technology R&D should all be encouraged.
To keep companies and people financially motivated to cut emissions and pursue low-carbon alternatives, pricing mechanisms like a carbon tax or the cap-and-system should be kept in place and expanded.
Encourage the use of public transportation, biking, and walking as well as the purchase of electric automobiles as a means of getting about town. Develop interconnected transportation networks, prioritize charging infrastructure for active mobility, and upgrade existing infrastructure.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that ecosystems in Canada are being disrupted by climate change, which is otherwise creating a very stable environment. The timing of flowering, migration, and hibernation are just a few of the crucial biological processes that might be affected by climate change. Pollination, the spread of embryos, and the availability of food are just a few of the processes that might be affected by these shifts. The loss of glaciers and sea ice makes Canada’s Arctic region particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. As a result of melting sea ice, polar bears, seals, and other Arctic marine species are losing their habitats and sea levels are rising. Further effects of permafrost thawing include ecological decline and surface instability. Efforts are being made to reduce plastic use and boost the circular economy via measures such as plastic bans and other garbage reduction strategies.

Reference

Anderson, V., & Gough, W. A. (2021). Harnessing the four horsemen of climate change: a framework for deep resilience, decarbonization, and planetary health in Ontario, Canada. Sustainability, 13(1), 379. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/1/379/pdf [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Boulanger, Y., & Pascual Puigdevall, J. (2021). Boreal forests will be more severely affected by projected anthropogenic climate forcing than mixedwood and northern hardwood forests in eastern Canada. Landscape Ecology, 36, 1725-1740. Retrieved from: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/biorxiv/early/2020/11/06/2020.11.05.370049.full.pdf [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Boulanger, Y., Pascual, J., Bouchard, M., D’Orangeville, L., Périé, C., & Girardin, M. P. (2022). Multi‐model projections of tree species performance in Quebec, Canada under future climate change. Global Change Biology, 28(5), 1884-1902. Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Catherine-Perie/publication/356723947_Multi-model_projections_of_tree_species_performance_in_Quebec_Canada_under_future_climate_change/links/620537f87b05f82592decc3d/Multi-model-projections-of-tree-species-performance-in-Quebec-Canada-under-future-climate-change.pdf [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Carroll, C., & Noss, R. F. (2021). Rewilding in the face of climate change. Conservation Biology, 35(1), 155-167. Retrieved from: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cobi.13531 [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Carroll, C., & Ray, J. C. (2021). Maximizing the effectiveness of national commitments to protected area expansion for conserving biodiversity and ecosystem carbon under climate change. Global Change Biology, 27(15), 3395-3414. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/gcb.15645 [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Devisscher, T., Spies, J., & Griess, V. C. (2021). Time for change: Learning from community forests to enhance the resilience of multi-value forestry in British Columbia, Canada. Land use policy, 103, 105317. Retrieved from: https://bccfa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Devisscher_etal_2021_Time-for-change.pdf [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Greaves, W. (2021). Climate change and security in Canada. International Journal, 76(2), 183-203. Retrieved from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/00207020211019325 [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Magnan, G., Sanderson, N. K., Piilo, S., Pratte, S., Väliranta, M., van Bellen, S., … & Garneau, M. (2022). Widespread recent ecosystem state shifts in high‐latitude peatlands of northeastern Canada and implications for carbon sequestration. Global Change Biology, 28(5), 1919-1934. Retrieved from: https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/files/171287227/Global_Change_Biology_2021_Magnan_Widespread_recent_ecosystem_state_shifts_in_high_u2010latitude_peatlands_of_northeastern.pdf [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

McKinney, M. A., Chételat, J., Burke, S. M., Elliott, K. H., Fernie, K. J., Houde, M., … & Yurkowski, D. J. (2022). Climate change and mercury in the Arctic: biotic interactions. Science of the Total Environment, 834, 155221. Retrieved from: http://www.arcticecology.ca/uploads/4/5/1/1/45115275/1-s2.0-s0048969722023142-main.pdf [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Murphy, G. E., Dunic, J. C., Adamczyk, E. M., Bittick, S. J., Côté, I. M., Cristiani, J., … & Wong, M. C. (2021). From coast to coast to coast: ecology and management of seagrass ecosystems across Canada. Facets, 6(1), 139-179. Retrieved from: https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/facets-2020-0020 [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]

Royer-Tardif, S., Bauhus, J., Doyon, F., Nolet, P., Thiffault, N., & Aubin, I. (2021). Revisiting the functional zoning concept under climate change to expand the portfolio of adaptation options. Forests, 12(3), 273. Retrieved from: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/3/273/pdf [Retrieved on: 04.06.2023]