Climate Change
The Saskatchewan prairie region has been identified as one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change. Due to its already naturally dry climate, this area is vulnerable to small changes and extreme weather conditions associated with climate change. For instance, prolonged droughts or sudden floods are likely to have a devastating effect. Heavy cultivation and fragmentation of land by human activities throughout large parts of Saskatchewan increase the impact of extreme conditions due to erosion prone cultivated fields and heavy water use for irrigation.
While the region is highly vulnerable to climate change it is, at the same time, a significant contributor for a number of reasons. The largest increase in contributions of greenhouse gas emissions has occurred from industrial development in Saskatchewan. New forms of development that do not have these impacts or minimize these impacts need to be explored. At the same time, transportation in Saskatchewan makes use of substantial fossil fuels. The great distances between cities and towns in Saskatchewan and the lack of frequent passenger trains both between and within communities makes personal transportation a further source of CO2 emission and air pollution. Highly mechanized, intensive agriculture focused on exports from the region also contributes substantial transportation emissions. As a landlocked province lacking waterways for shipping, transportation costs and fossil fuel use have historically been high. Since everyone in the region contribute to CO2 emission in a diversity of ways, each one of us can do his or her share in reducing it. We therefore believe that education on climate change is an important issue in the Saskatchewan RCE.
WORKSHOP INVITATION: Impact of Climate Change on Target Species at Risk in
WORKSHOP INVITATION: Impact of Climate Change on Target Species at Risk in
SW Saskatchewan Apr 14, 15, Cypress Hills SK
Agenda ATTACHED
How This Workshop Fits
As part of the South of the Divide, Action Plan on Species at Risk, we are
hosting a workshop to develop conservation strategies primarily for UPLAND
GRASSLAND species that might be affected by climate change (see species
list below).
Who is Leading
Anne Schrag of the WWF-Montana will be leading us through a workshop using
climate change impact scenarios on upland grassland vegetation that have
been developed by Jeff Thorpe of the Saskatchewan Research Council. Anne
will be drawing on species expertise to assess consequences on target
species. Below is a breakdown of target species for the South of the Divide
Project. The workshop will be concentrating on UPLAND GRASSLAND species
(see list of species below). Anne lead a similar workshop series in
Montana. The Final Report is attached FYI.
Who Should Attend
Species experts and people interested in developing biodiversity
conservation adaptation strategies for climate change.
Meeting Objectives
· Increased awareness of climate change impacts on sagebrush and
grassland communities
· Identification of methods for setting management objectives in the
face of climate change
· Increased awareness of the scenario-planning process that can be used
to develop adaptation strategies
· Identification of adaptation strategies and thresholds for action
· Recommendations for including climate change adaptation into the
South-of-the-Divide Species-at-Risk Action Plan
Meeting Location and Particulars
Time: April 14 - 15, 2010
Duration: 1½ day
Location: Cypress Room at the Cypress Park Resort Inn
Cypress Hills Provincial Park,
Maple Creek, Sask.
662-4477
Start time: April 14, 2010 @ 1 pm.
April 15, 2010 @ 8:30 am.
Cypress Park Resort Inn Accommodation costs:
28 hotel rooms - $95.00 plus tax
Cabins ( 2 night min.)
2 bedroom - $105.00 plus tax
3 bedroom - $115.00 plus tax
Condos (2 night min.)
2 bedroom - $125.00)
3 bedroom - $155.00Complimentary Continental breakfast – To be determined
NOTE: Participants Responsible for Own Lunch and Supper
Lunch - Soup, salad and two selection of sandwiches – To be
determined
Supper - see attached menu selection. Preorder when booking your
room.
Pastries and refreshments available by the dozen for mid-morning and
mid-afternoon courtesy of Grasslands National Park
Distances from Maple Creek to:
· Calgary........390 km................5 ½ hr.
· Regina.........375 km................4 hr
· Saskatoon....318 km................5 ½ hr.
Distance from Maple Creek to Cypress Hills Provincial Park:
· 45 km............40 minutes
Please call ahead to book your room(s) as there have been 25 rooms blocked
off and will only be held until March 15, 2010
To confirm attendance or for further information Contact
Pat Fargey: pat.fargey@pc.gc.ca. Tel 306-298-2166 ext 224
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RCE International Conference (Curitiba, Brazil) and RFG Minutes
Hello RCE Members and Supporters,
This is just a quick note that if you are planning on attending the 5th International RCE Conference in Curitiba, Brazil (May 18-20, 2010) to submit your registration to the UN University by the March 12 deadline to ensure you have UN University accommodation. Details about the conference are included in the minutes from the RCE Facilitation Group meeting held this past Monday, March 1, 2010 (attached below). The mintues include not only a number of important notes about the conference but also a variety of important RCE items that were discussed along with action items agreed to (highlighted in bold). Please feel free to contact RCE members in relation to these activities. Also, if you are planning to attend the International RCE Conference in Brazil, please send a quick e-mail to me (Roger Petry; roger.petry@uregina.ca) by March 10 in addition to submitting your registration directly to the UN University by the March 12 deadline.
The minutes for our meeting are also posted on the RFG event posting on the website along with various documents related to 5th International RCE Conference (outlined with links in the attached minutes).
Thank you to everyone for your support of the RCEs work over the last year and the number of exciting upcoming activities outlined in the minutes.
Sincerely,
Roger Petry
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Request for Material for Next RCE Bulletin (Deadline March 15, 2010)
Hi Everyone. Please see the note below from Sampreethi. Also, please cc any submissions made directly to the UN University to myself (Roger Petry) and Lyle Benko.
Dear RCE colleagues,
It's time for the first RCE bulletin for this year and I request you to send news articles on your RCE's activities and events from January - March 2010. Information on upcoming events would also be helpful, as would be photos to accompany articles.
Please note that the deadline for submissions is Monday, 15 March, 2010.
Looking forward to your contributions.
Sampreethi
rceservicecentre@ias.unu.edu
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UN University RCE Communications Tools
Dear RCE colleagues,
Please find attached a short guide to UNU-IAS' communications tools for
RCEs. This document includes information on the RCE logo and how to apply
for permission for its use, information on the RCE bulletin, the RCE
websection, printed publications, online space for inter-RCE communications
and some information on other media.
We recommend that your RCE consults the document to make the best use of the
tools available.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have.
Thank you,
Sampreethi
Sampreethi Aipanjiguly
Communications Coordinator
ESD Programme, UNU-IAS
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Polar Bears, Climate Change, and “Fig-Leaf” Conservation Policy, March 18, 2010 (Regina, Saskatoon)
Polar Bears, Climate Change, and “Fig-Leaf” Conservation Policy
Presented by Dr. Douglas Clark, Centennial Chair in Human Dimensions of Environment
and Sustainability, School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan
March 18, 2010
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Please note: This lecture will take place in Saskatoon and will be video-conferenced to a Regina audience.
Saskatoon Location: Theatre (101 Diefenbaker Place), Diefenbaker Building
University of Saskatchewan Campus
Regina Video Conference Location*: JS Window Room, 2nd Floor, Gallery Building
University of Regina College Ave. Campus
Polar bears have become globally recognized symbols in the movement to take action against climate change, and they are the subject of increasing designation internationally as a species at risk due to a warming Arctic climate. Unfortunately, the use of polar bears as a politicized symbol in climate change debates has resulted in top-down decisions that are counter-productive not only from a biological conservation perspective, but also to achieving broader societal goals such as Aboriginal self-determination in the Canadian north. In Canada and internationally there is a trend towards fig-leaf policies that offer the reassurance of governmental action to protect polar bears without actually addressing the principal underlying threat to the species, which is climate change. Dr. Clark proposes an alternative strategy for polar bear conservation that is based on: 1) local adaptation by both people and bears to changing conditions, 2) community-scale engagement, and 3) larger-scale institutions creating and supporting linkages between those locales. Such an approach can and must be applied in concert with other adaptive governance approaches to deal more effectively with the interrelated challenges of polar bear conservation, climate change, and human dignity.
This event is co-sponsored by the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan.
With an emphasis on creating and integrating multiple understandings of natural and human environments, the school focuses on collaborative research and teaching, graduate student engagement, and community involvement. Students are given opportunities to address environmental and sustainability challenges with regional, national, and international significance. For more information on the school, visit http://www.usask.ca/sens.
Registration: Those interested in attending are encouraged to register online at https://jsgs.ohmedia.ca/form/191
For more information contact us at 306.585.5869 or js_outreach@uregina.ca
*Please be advised that the JSGS Outreach & Training Window Room in Regina is located on the second floor of the Gallery Building. Individuals with mobility difficulties should contact us at 306-585-5826 if this is a concern.
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