{"id":10002,"date":"2021-08-03T15:21:19","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T22:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/bcparksblog\/?p=10002"},"modified":"2022-06-27T14:59:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-27T21:59:18","slug":"bracing-for-more-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/bcparksblog\/2021\/08\/03\/bracing-for-more-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Bracing for More Change: Climate Risks and BC\u2019s Parks and Protected Areas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Home<\/a>\n \n Bracing for More Change: Climate Risks and BC\u2019s Parks and Protected Areas\n <\/span>\n
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Bracing for More Change: Climate Risks and BC\u2019s Parks and Protected Areas<\/h1>\n
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The historic heatwave of late June\/early July has brought the realities of climate change home to British Columbians. Sudden deaths, the loss of a community, wildfires, loss of flora and fauna, and impacts to agricultural and shellfish sectors, the list is long making it difficult to grasp our unknown future with a new and dangerous climate. Like many other facets of our society, and indeed our world, our protected areas are vulnerable to a changing climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate change does not respect park boundaries; the cultural and ecological places that our parks protect are also feeling the heat as are the facilities that park visitors love to use. For example, more than 20 parks are closed<\/a> including some highways due to wildfire. The Berg Lake Trail at Mount Robson is also closed after an extraordinary flood washed away bridges due to the combination of high elevation snowpack and persistent hot weather. Keeping parks safe and open in our changing climate requires significant planning and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos of Mount Robson Provincial Park\u2019s Berg Lake following the July 2021 flood event:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While B.C. has always had events like wildfires, floods and droughts, climate change will increase their frequency and severity. These changes are driven by higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, created by many decades of activities such as burning fossil fuels and clearing land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t undo the past and avoid the effects of climate change, but we can be better prepared to adapt and reduce the impacts.  The province recently released a draft Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy<\/a> to help BC prepare for future climate risks. Preparing now can help protect our province from future shocks and strengthen the resilience of our ecosystems, communities and economy. The Strategy is allowing BC Parks to improve our understanding of climate impacts on BC Parks\u2019 infrastructure and operations \u2013 an important first step in preparing for an uncertain future. There are also some key steps individuals can take to reduce climate risks and help the province better prepare \u2013 both at BC Parks and across the province:<\/p>\n\n\n\n