Sep
27
2017

Public feedback invited on climate change recommendations

Islanders are invited to give feedback on recommendations that will guide the province’s strategy to address the impacts of climate change.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s (UPEI) Climate Lab created the Prince Edward Island Climate Change Adaptation Recommendations Draft Report after receiving public feedback this summer. Online feedback on the report can be provided at www.princeedwardisland.ca/adaptation before October 20, and three public engagement sessions are scheduled for next month.

“The adaptation strategy is the next step in the development of the Climate Change Action Plan, led by the Climate Change Secretariat,” Communities, Land and Environment Minister Robert Mitchell said. “By recognizing how our province is being affected by climate change now, we can decide the best way to move forward and adapt to those effects.”

Government’s Climate Change Secretariat is leading the development of a climate change action plan that will consider the final adaptation recommendations. A total of 86 recommendations were provided for adaptation action by provincial government and stakeholders within the following 10 key sectors:

  • agriculture;
  • education and outreach;
  • energy;
  • fish and aquaculture;
  • forestry and biodiversity;
  • insurance;
  • properties and infrastructure;
  • public health and safety;
  • tourism; and
  • water.

“We are delighted with the enthusiasm of the sector stakeholders at the consultation sessions,” UPEI Climate Lab Director Dr. Adam Fenech said. “There was a strong sense of willingness and eagerness to collaborate on making the ecology, society, and economy of Prince Edward Island more resilient to the impacts of climate change.”

The public is asked to provide input through a series of public engagement sessions and through online submissions. The three public engagement sessions are:

  • Charlottetown - Tuesday, October 17, 5 p.m. at UPEI, Andrew Hall Building (Room 142);
  • Summerside - Wednesday, October 18, 7 p.m. at the Summerside Community Church; and
  • Montague - Thursday, October 19, 7 p.m. at the Riverhouse Inn.

For more information, please visit www.princeedwardisland.ca/climatechange.

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Media contacts:

Samantha Hughes
Department of Communities, Land and Environment


Dave Atkinson
University of Prince Edward Island

 

Backgrounder

With the help of Islanders, the Climate Change Secretariat is developing a new Climate Change Action Plan reduce our greenhouse gases emissions and better prepare for a changing climate. The approach includes developing separate -- but complementary -- mitigation and adaptation strategies.

  • The mitigation piece outlines how we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while the adaptation piece will highlight how we can adapt to the already changing climate. This strategy is currently being developed, following the public consultation process in 2016.
  • Back in June Islanders were invited to give input online regarding an adaptation strategy on how climate change affects the Island and what opportunities and challenges that presents to different sectors. The UPEI Climate Lab received all input and developed that into a draft adaptation recommendations report.

Following the public feedback period on this draft piece the Climate Change Secretariat will receive UPEI’s final adaptation recommendations report.

General Inquiries

Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action
4th Floor, Jones Building
11 Kent Street
PO Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8

Phone: 902-368-5044
Toll-free: 1-866-368-5044
Fax: 902-368-5830
Report an Environmental Concern

DeptEECA@gov.pe.ca