At least one in five people globally felt a "strong" climate change influence this winter, according to Climate Central's latest analysis. In British Columbia, climate change doubled the likelihood of experiencing warm temperatures for 25 days this winter, marking a longer warming spell than anywhere else in Canada. The effect of climate change was evident throughout the country, with Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut also witnessing over 20 days of temperatures made at least twice as likely by human-caused climate alterations.
The analysis aimed to dissect how average warming has manifested over a single season, revealing significant temperature anomalies across Canada. Whitehorse experienced one of the most notable deviations, with an average temperature 2.5 degrees Celsius above the previous 30-year average. Similarly, Vancouver and Victoria recorded climate-driven shifts to warmer temperatures for 29 and 21 days, respectively. In Vancouver, a smaller temperature anomaly of 0.2 degrees Celsius was noted.
Human-induced climate change has raised Canada's annual average temperatures by 2 degrees Celsius from 1948 to 2023. This extensive warming has become increasingly apparent during winter months, with climate change identified as a significant factor influencing Canada's winter temperatures.
"We should be clear with the public. We need to wake them up," stated Hossein Bonakdari, emphasizing the urgency for public awareness on climate change impacts.
The study underscores the pressing need to comprehend how these changes affect daily life and decision-making. Joseph Giguere remarked, "People adjust pretty quickly to what they feel. They don’t think on a timeline of 30 years, 100 years," highlighting the gap in perception versus long-term climatic shifts.
