Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptation Plan - Yukon College

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................... 2
KEY TERMS ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................ 5
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... 6
The Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptation Plan Vision ...................................................................6
Special Considerations of the Whitehorse Adaptation Plan ..............................................................7
Sustainable development .............................................................................................................................7
Climate change mitigation ...........................................................................................................................7
Connection between the community and the wilderness .......................................................................7
WHITEHORSE ADAPTATION PLANNING PROCESS....................................................................................8
Scenario Planning and Risk Management ................................................................................................8
Community Engagement ............................................................................................................................10
Limitations of the Whitehorse Adaptation Plan ...................................................................................11
WHITEHORSE COMMUNITY PROFILE .........................................................................................................11
Whitehorse Demographic Profile .............................................................................................................12
Biophysical Profile of the Whitehorse Region ......................................................................................14
Environmental History of the Whitehorse Community .....................................................................17
CLIMATE AND WHITEHORSE ..........................................................................................................................18
Past Climate Trends in the Whitehorse Area.........................................................................................18
Projected Climate Conditions for the Whitehorse Region ...............................................................19
Temperature ................................................................................................................................................. 20
Precipitation ................................................................................................................................................. 20
Frost-free period ..........................................................................................................................................21
CLIMATE-INDUCED VULNERABILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES ............................................................21
Broad Sector Level Risk: Tier I Risk Assessment Results ....................................................................22
Community-Based Consequences: Tier II Risk Assessment Results ..............................................23
Opportunities .................................................................................................................................................. 24
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND WHITEHORSE ............................................................................25
Community Adaptations to High-Risk Consequences of Climate Change ...................................25
DEVELOPING A WHITEHORSE ADAPTATION STRATEGY .......................................................................28
Enhancing Knowledge for Action .............................................................................................................28
Partners ............................................................................................................................................................. 29
Mainstreaming ................................................................................................................................................ 30
Establishing a Timeline for Adaptation ...................................................................................................30
WhiteCAP Projects .........................................................................................................................................33
Recommendations and Next Steps ..........................................................................................................33
REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................................ 35
APPENDIX A - Summary of Future Histories of Whitehorse: Scenarios of Change .........39
APPENDIX B - Whitehorse Adaptation Project Committee Members ......................................41
APPENDIX C - A History of Environmental Stresses in Whitehorse: 1930-2009 .................42
APPENDIX D - Whitehorse Climate-Change Projections ................................................................58
APPENDIX E - Community of Whitehorse Risk Assessment ..........................................................65
APPENDIX F - Community of Whitehorse Adaptation Assessment ...........................................71