CVC and Global Warming

For Immediate Release:
Monday, February 5, 2007

Global warming is a reality and Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC) has not been caught unaware. The U.N. Report on Global Warming released Friday February 2, 2007 identifies that it is expected the temperature rise will be between 1.8 degrees celsius and 4 degrees celsius by 2100. This is a direct result of discharge of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane, nitrous oxide) primarily from fossil fuels that we use in our automobiles and to heat our homes. Most scientists believe that the critical temperature that should not be exceeded is a 2 degrees celsius increase.

In this watershed it is likely there will be more severe storms and degradation of water quality and quantity. It is likely that plants, animals and their habitats (already under stress from land use changes) will be further impacted. It is expected that plants and animals in general will move further north with more southern species further invading this area. Great Lakes water levels are expected to fall because of increased temperatures. This is particularly important because the Greater Golden Horseshoe area is dependent on the Great Lakes for drinking water.

If the world outside Canada is impacted by food shortages, water shortages and potential sea level rise (it is estimated that 2/3 of the world is located in coastal littoral zones), the Credit Valley watershed would be wise to preserve its water resources (others will likely desire Great Lakes water) and be in a position to provide its own food (agricultural land will need to be protected).

"CVC has not been idle for the last 10 years in the area of global warming", says Pat Mullin, Chair of the Board of Directors of CVC, City of Mississauga and Region of Peel Councillor.

CVC has built up tremendous scientific expertise in the last 10 years. We wish to recognize and thank the Region of Peel and our local municipalities who have had the foresight to fund research that will serve us well to guide this area's response to global warming. We must not only reduce carbon emissions, we must also adapt. We know the existing water quality in the watershed. We have built computer models for our ground and surface water. We have implementation plans for how to protect ground and surface water quality and quantity which we can begin implementing over the next few years. We have emergency plans geared to flooding and erosion. We have divided the Credit River watershed into 20 subwatersheds and over the last 10 years have mapped most of the natural environment and developed implementation plans to protect those subwatersheds. We have developed a water management strategy, a natural heritage strategy, a fisheries strategy, a greenlands securement strategy, a conservation lands strategy and a stewardship strategy (tree planting and environmental management strategy for private land owners to manage their lands in an environmentally friendly manner). CVC has developed a preliminary framework for water allocation should that be a necessity.

CVC in co-operation with the Region of Peel also have a greenlands securement plan. This is necessary to protect habitat to put important natural systems in public ownership in perpetuity. The public greenspace will ensure species preservation and connected corridors to allow wildlife movement. Without these, plants and animals may be unable to survive. Conservation Authorities attempt to protect the natural environment in the land use planning process. How land use planning in the future is done will be even more important than today. Neighborhoods will need to intensify in already urbanized areas and use new conservation technologies to reduce carbon emissions.

"CVC has more to do to refine some of these studies to direct our response to global warming," says Rae Horst, Chief Administrative Officer, CVC. "However with sufficient monetary resources we can move some of these implementation plans forward immediately. We are ready to and must move quickly forward in the areas of flooding and erosion; water quality and quantity; stewardship (including tree planting); and education. We welcome full engagement of the Federal and Provincial governments in our watershed and are ready and willing to move forward with them," says Horst.

CVC is one of 36 conservation authorities in Ontario . Conservation Authorities are the provincial / municipal partnerships tasked with managing all natural resources other than minerals in a watershed area (the land mass that drains into a river). CVC's area of jurisdiction includes parts of Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Orangeville, Halton Hills, Erin, East Garafraxa, Amaranth, Mono and Oakville.

Click here for a copy of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Summary for Policymakers

Click here to view a presentation on Global Warming by Rae Horst, CAO of Credit Valley Conservation

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