Researchers believe a 2ºC to 3ºC increase in temperatures could, in the short term, mean greater crop yields for Canadian farmers. But continued warming will bring about changes that will outweigh this benefit; higher temperatures will make it difficult to sustain a healthy balance of diverse crops while thinner snow cover could make winter wheat crops vulnerable. With agriculture providing employment to about 15 million Canadians, warming’s threat to our crops could easily translate into massive job losses.
Drastic changes for Canada’s fisheries
The world’s fisheries generate over US$130 billion annually, contributing significantly to the economies of many countries. In Canada, marine fisheries haul in more than $2 billion each year – a substantial income that could be cut drastically as temperatures rise in our rivers, oceans, and lakes. Scientists say a 2ºC warming will threaten the natural habitat of Atlantic salmon and the Atlantic deep sea scallop. At the same time, warm water species such as the smallmouth bass are expected to become more abundant in our Great Lakes. But warmer waters can also lead to increased levels of parasites, microbes, and toxins such as mercury in our fish.
