Photo Ed Halverson

Nova Scotians got a look at how climate change will impact the province into the year 2100 as government released the latest projections and risk assessment Tuesday.

The report, titled Weathering What’s Ahead: Climate Change Risk and Nova Scotia’s Well-being, shows that Nova Scotia is getting warmer and precipitation patterns are changing and if further action is not taken Nova Scotians will experience more frequent and intense storms, sea level rise and changing oceans.

It says if global greenhouse gas emissions are not cut significantly projections indicate by 2100 Nova Scotia can expect:
— an increase of 4.8 degrees Celsius in the average annual temperature
— many more nights that are warmer than 18 C – in the range of 45, compared with about three currently
— a 10 per cent increase in annual precipitation
— higher peak wind speeds by 3.7 to seven kilometres per hour
— sea level rise by up to one metre
— an increase in the sea surface temperature by 5.1 degrees.

In a release, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Timothy Halman says “It’s important to understand where and how we are vulnerable so we can all take action.”

In addition to identifying areas of concern, the climate change risk assessment established priorities for action in Nova Scotia including:
— building capacity to prepare for multiple hazards that interact and evolve over time
— acting on flooding and increased heat-related hazards
— protecting people’s well-being and recognizing the links between people and the environment
— regularly updating the risk to the province.

The climate change risk assessment helped inform the province’s climate plan, which will be released Wednesday, December 7.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

Site Supervisor Jonathan Sheppard at Kejimkujik’s solar array. Photo Parks Canada

Power consumption at Kejimkujik is now as green as its renowned forests.

Since May, the national park and historic site has been generating enough power onsite using solar panels to meet the needs of campers in Jeremy’s Bay campground.

Site Supervisor at Kejimkujik, Jonathan Sheppard says this makes Keji the first park in Canada to go net-zero.

“The power that’s actually consumed by visitors and the number of visitors we have here is actually a hard category of greenhouse gas emissions to reduce because it’s up to individual choices and equipment and gear and stuff,” said Sheppard. “So, the principal for this one, for offsetting it, allows us to generate an equivalent amount of power so that when visitors come here, they know that their experience is powered by the sun and basically it’s a net-zero camping experience.”

Power is not stored at Keji but is sold to Nova Scotia Power and purchased back, creating a net-zero exchange.

Generating over 12,000Kw per month, the 100Kw solar array is made up of 272 photo-voltaic panels and covers a 40 x 60 metre area.

The array is located in a clearing near the front of the park out of view of visitors on the site of a former weather station.

Kejimkujik solar array viewed from above. Photo Parks Canada

Sheppard says the location was chosen after consultation with Mi’kmaq partners.

“They were involved in the archaeology around this project. We did that collaboratively,” said Sheppard. “They were very supportive of the benefits of this project but because we’re also a national historic site that’s designated so because of the Mi’kmaq cultural landscape, they were also interested in making sure that when you came into the park you didn’t see a big piece of infrastructure.”

The solar project was funded through an almost $600,000 Government of Canada investment to support greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts and clean technology.

Sheppard estimates at the rate the array is producing power, that investment will be paid off in 20 years.

And perhaps most importantly, over their projected 35-year lifespan, the panels will be responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 3,300 tonnes, the equivalent of taking 1035 cars off the road.

Sheppard says since the pandemic people have sought connection with the outdoors and it’s important to make that experience as enjoyable and green as possible.

“There’s a direct link between the visitor’s experience here in the campground and the knowledge that their experience is powered entirely by the sun,” said Sheppard. “That, for us, provides a really neat connection between a visitor understanding their visit in the context of the larger picture, not only of protecting a national park but the work to mitigate against climate change as well, while they’re here.”

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.