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HomeEnvironmental ImpactsClimate change increased the likelihood of record-breaking heat wave in Eastern Canada,...

Climate change increased the likelihood of record-breaking heat wave in Eastern Canada, says National News

“Climate Change Made Eastern Canada Heat Wave 2-10 Times More Likely, Federal Officials Say”

The heat wave that hit Eastern Canada last month was found to be between two to 10 times more likely due to climate change, according to a rapid analysis conducted by Environment and Climate Change Canada. This analysis marks the debut of Canada’s new rapid extreme weather event attribution pilot program, which aims to determine the extent to which climate change influenced specific weather events.

Greg Flato, director of climate research at ECCC, emphasized that climate change is not a distant future concern but a current reality that is impacting weather extremes in Canada. The rapid attribution system used in this analysis is one of the first in the world to be publicly rolled out and applied nationwide, with results available within days.

The heat wave in June broke numerous temperature records across Eastern Canada, with all-time maximum temperature records shattered in Bathurst and Saint John, N.B. The same rapid attribution system will be applied to the heat wave in Western Canada once it subsides, and plans are in place to analyze cold weather extremes and precipitation events in the future.

The federal pilot program has three levels to communicate the influence of climate change on extreme weather events, ranging from somewhat more likely to far more likely. Last month’s heat wave fell in the middle category, labeled as “much more likely,” with a factor of two to ten times more likely due to climate change.

Rapid attribution studies, which have gained popularity in the past decade, aim to provide timely information on the role of climate change in extreme weather events. The results of this analysis come amidst a trend of record-breaking global temperatures, with June marking the 13th consecutive month of record highs.

The findings of this analysis underscore the urgent need for action to address climate change and its impact on weather patterns. As countries strive to meet the goals set in the Paris climate agreement, the importance of understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change on extreme weather events becomes increasingly clear.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 9, 2024, highlighting the ongoing efforts to study and address the impact of climate change on weather extremes in Canada.

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