WhiteCAP_Plan_01SEPT..

NCE WhiteCAP Environmental History
1.0 Introduction
The term climate change refers to a significant change in the variability or average state
of the climate (IPCC). Adaptive capacity as it relates to climate change is the ability or
potential ability of a community to adjust to climate change by addressing and planning
for changes, taking advantage of related opportunities, or coping with the consequences
of change 1 (modified from IPCC 2007). Current model predictions by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), report the greatest climate
warming in the eastern arctic. Yet, certain regions of the North West are also predicted
to continue warming at a faster than average rate due to characteristic mountainous
terrain and subsequent microclimates. In particular, the Yukon has warmed at an
unprecedented rate (IPCC 2007). Of particular interest is the ability of the capital city of
Whitehorse to respond adaptively to reoccurring environmental stresses that are likely to
increase in severity and frequency due to a warming climate. We define an
environmental stress as an extreme, generally short-lived, natural event that tends to
impact the immediate landscape. The findings of this report will assist with the evaluation
of adaptive capacity during the development of the Whitehorse Community Climate
Change Adaptation Plan. For this reason, the environmental stresses highlighted in this
report are those likely to be affected by climate change. We provide an overview of how
environmental stresses affected the community from 1930 to 2009, by: 1) identifying the
primary stresses affecting Whitehorse, 2) providing historical examples of related events
of how residents and the city responded, and 3) gauging the community’s adaptive
capacity to respond to potential impacts of climate change related events based on
historical responses.
Geographically, Whitehorse is a relatively remote community located in the southern
region of the Yukon Territory, at 60°43’N and 135°4’W. Whitehorse is situated in the
Upper Yukon Basin, a region characterised by deep river valleys and an elevation grade
of 600-1200m. Climate is continental with a highly variable daily and seasonal
temperature regime. On average, the region receives 200-300mm of precipitation
annually 2 . The regional climate is influenced by teleconnections between the Pacific
Decadal Oscillation, the El Nino Southern Oscillation, and the Arctic Oscillation 3 . The
community is considered relatively urban by Northern standards. As of 2006 4 , the
population of Whitehorse was 22,114-23,991 residents – approximately 75% the
population of Yukon. Because of its central location along the Alaska Highway and
relatively high population density, Whitehorse functions as an economic and service hub
for the territory.
1 IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (http://www.ipcc.ch/)
2
Whal, H.E., Fraser, D.B., Harvey, R.C., and Maxwell, J.B. 1987. Climate of Yukon. Environment
Canada, Government of Canada , Ottawa, Canada .
3
Werner, T. and Murdock, T. 2008. Changes in Past-Hydro-climatology and Projected Future
Change for the City of Whitehorse: Summary Report.Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium,
Victoria, Canada.
4
Yukon Bureau of Statistics. 2007. Population and Dwelling Counts; Census 2006 Information
Sheet #C06-01. Yukon Government, Whitehorse Yukon. [Online 10 November 2009]
http://www.eco.gov.yk.ca/stats/pdf/popdwell.pdf Ric Janowicz 2002
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