About Climate Change  In the last 200 years, our activities have released more greenhouse gases than our planet can handle – too much of them are remaining trapped inside our atmosphere, more than at any time in the last 800,000 years. These gases, which include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, are causing our planet to warm up – and the results of this ‘global warming’ are becoming more dramatic every day.

Different parts of Canada are affected differently by global warming. Some parts, like the Arctic, are experiencing much warmer temperatures, while others have noticed little change. When our scientists know which areas are experiencing changes, they can forecast how those changes might affect the wildlife and people who live there. When we know what we can expect, we can prepare for these changes (adaptation) and even take action to prevent them (mitigation).

To learn more about climate change, global warming and its effects on animals and people, please visit Nature Canada.