Climate Change

Cedar tree seedling

What is climate change? Climate change is the altering of long-term patterns of weather. Increasing amounts of heat are being trapped in the Earth's atmosphere. A warmer Earth causes changes in climate that happen much faster than in the past.
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How will climate change affect Ontario? In Ontario we can expect average temperatures to rise by three to eight degrees Celsius over the next century. That increase may seem small, but it will cause big changes in our lives and communities – changes that are already starting to happen. Climate change will affect our lakes, rivers, forests and wildlife and the natural systems they are part of. Read more

 

 

Understand:

We need to understand and track the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and natural resources in Ontario.

 

 

 

Mitigate:

We can mitigate (slow down) climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere.

 

 

 

Adapt:

All across Ontario, we can prepare for the effects of climate change, such as more severe weather.

 

See how Ontario's climate may change in the future. Two interactive Climate Change Mapping Tools project future temperatures and amounts of rain across Ontario and show what might happen if we do nothing, or if we all do our part to fight climate change.

We need to act now to reduce climate change. We also need to prepare for the changes that are likely to happen. The Ontario government has an action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and a new action plan on ways Ontario can adapt to a changing climate.

See how the work of the Ministry of Natural Resources is helping us understand climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Read the factsheet (PDF 37Kb)

Read a series of climate change research reports and information notes published by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

All climate change photos courtesy of MNR unless noted