Identified Risks
Agriculture - Warming temperatures increase drought risk and enable pest animals and weeds to establish. Greater irrigation demand will put pressure on water resources. Increased rainfall will cause erosion, landslides and slips reducing productive capacity of land.
Fishing and Aquaculture - Warmer seas and freshwater systems increase susceptibility to disease for wild species and aquaculture. Warmer ocean temperatures could allow organisms carried in ballast water, ship hulls and by shifting currents to establish. Higher water temperatures could favour the expansion of warm-water pest fish.
Renewable Energy Sector - Reduced spring/summer snow melt could cause seasonal variability risk to hydro-generation. A decrease in summer wind magnitude could impact wind generation, supply balance.
Tourism – Reduced snow cover will impact the ski industry. Wetter conditions, flooding, and extreme weather events could disrupt visitor access, damage infrastructure, and reduce the attractiveness of outdoor destinations. Projected changes in river flow will affect activities such as fishing, jet boating, rafting, kayaking and scenic cruising altering both safety and reliability of these experiences
Forestry -Warmer temperatures and windier conditions will increase wildfire risk and a longer fire season. Disease pressure could increase, reducing productivity.
Roading - High temperatures will increase damage to bitumen. Increased heavy rainfall and flood magnitude raise the risk of bridge and road washouts. Coastal roads will face challenges from sea-level rise and storm surge
Stormwater and Wastewater - Increases in rainfall intensity and multi-day rainfall totals could exceed current design capacities. Sea-level rise combined with storm surge could increase backflow and reduced drainage capacity
