Publication Date April 2, 2019 | CNN

Canada is warming at twice the global rate, report says

Canada
Image: CNN
Image: CNN

Canada is warming up faster than the rest of the world, according to a report commissioned by the Canadian Environment and Climate Change Department.

The report -- titled "Canada's Changing Climate Report" -- says, on average, Canada's climate has been and will continue to warm at double the rate of global warming. The report also says since 1948, when records became available, Canada's average land temperature increased by 1.7 degrees Celsius (approximately 3 degrees Fahrenheit).

Some of the key takeaways from the report included:

  • The observed warming of Canadian temperatures are due to "human influence."
  • There has been more rain than snowfall in Canada since 1948, a trend that looks to continue over the 21st century.
  • Temperature extremes have changed in Canada, meaning extreme warm temperatures are getting hotter and extreme cold is becoming less cold.
  • Extreme hot temperatures will become more frequent and intense.
  • Over the last 30 years, the amount of snow-covered land has decreased in Canada.
  • Flooding is expected to increase in Canada because of sea-level rise.
  • Freshwater shortages in the summer are expected because warmer summers will increase the evaporation of surface water.