Ottawa: Canada launched its first-ever national climate adaptation strategy on Tuesday, aimed at reducing the risk from extreme weather events like floods and wildfires and mitigating slow the impacts of fossil fuel-driven global warming, including melting permafrost.
The strategy come as Canada tackles its worst-ever wildfire season, with 7.8 million hectares already burned before the hottest months of the summer have even started.
By 2030, average annual losses from disasters are forecast to reach C$15.4 billion ($11.69 billion), according to the federal government, while the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI) estimates climate impacts will slow Canada’s economic growth by C$25 billion annually by 2025, equal to 50% of projected GDP growth. –Agencies
