In the wake of the first 12 month period to exceed a global average temperature of 1.5 degrees celsius, the world is seeing an increase in natural disasters related to climate change. From February 2023 to January 2024, the global temperature exceeded the average temperature prior to the industrial revolution by 1.52°C. The United Nations emphasizes that, “...every fraction of a degree of warming matters” as this temperature increase has intensified the frequency of heat-related disasters that occur globally each year.
Climate change manifests in many different issues that may not be apparent at first glance. This article focuses on wildfires as a symptom of the global climate crisis, and dives deeper into the direct impacts. Wildfires can offset many other industries beyond the healthcare and emergency response sectors. In fact, this emerging threat can directly impact both Canadians and the global trade market through supply chain disruptions, trade deficits, and higher costs of living.
Climate Crises in Canada
It has been observed that there has been an increase of both volume and intensity of natural disasters in Canada, with the forest fire season being amplified by climate change. According to Canadian researchers working on a study surrounding the Boreal Forests of Ontario, Wotton et al. observes that there is a consensus that flammable environments will “…become more conducive to fires.” Furthermore, this study concluded that the resulting intensification of fireline and flame lengths proved to be “difficult to suppress.” From 2023 onwards, wildfire events broke records in terms of hectares burned, and fires that began earlier than expected in the season.
The intensity of recent wildfires due to rising global temperatures is reflected in the 2024 wildfire season in Jasper, Alberta, which was particularly devastating for the province. The fires forced over 25 000 people to evacuate, and left significant damage to infrastructure throughout the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. This specific disaster has caused ripple effects in terms of tourism and broader economic issues in the region. Many local businesses in Jasper rely on tourism year- round to maintain a steady income. Furthermore, tourism generates significant tax revenue for the region, which means that a sudden drop in visitors could impact services such as road maintenance, healthcare, and even further wildfire protection efforts which will exacerbate the crisis.
These physical effects of climate change-related disasters such as the Jasper wildfires also have direct impacts on Canadians across the country. The government of Canada emphasizes that “Canada’s forests cover a greater land area and store more carbon than do the forests of almost any other nation.” This means that forest fires are not only causing unprecedented amounts of greenhouse gasses to enter the atmosphere, but they are also impacting one of Canada’s most valuable and powerful trade resources. With Canada being a key player in the global lumber market, supply shortages have the potential to drive up prices worldwide. This can affect construction and manufacturing costs in countries such as the U.S., China, and Japan, which are major partners in Canadian forestry exports.
Furthermore, a reduction in wood exports from Canada would result in significant job losses and facility closures, which would severely impact local rural communities and businesses which rely heavily on the forestry industry for long-term economic self-sufficiency. In fact, in about 300 Canadian communities, forestry is “a key source of employment and income.” Therefore, wildfires have the potential to directly threaten the livelihood of these communities, along with over 212,000 individuals and their families who are employed by the forestry sector.
The increase in wildfires in Canada has also caused significant supply chain disruptions through closures of businesses, delivery disruptions, and damage to equipment that may be used to produce various resources. The result of these delays and limited access to goods and services creates nationwide ripple effects, as grocery store shelves may go empty, and prices for perishable items such as fresh produce and dairy will see a direct price increase. This means that the cost of living will increase for Canadians across the country.
Therefore, the rise in global temperature and subsequent increase in wildfire disasters in Canada poses a direct threat to Canadian nationals as well as international trade partners. It is in the best economic interest of Canadians and Canadian trade partners to invest in wildfire mitigation and response mechanisms to better protect Canada’s most valuable resources. Climate change must therefore not be dismissed as an intangible issue to Canadians, but an issue that proves to directly impact the wellbeing, economic sustainability, and international viability of Canada and its citizens.
Photo: wapiti8 (2016) via flickr. Public domain.
Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed in articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the NATO Association of Canada.
