Community Climate Change Workshops

June 13, 2000, Regina

Hosted by Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatoon and the University of Regina, Regina

Themes

What are the possible impacts of current and future climate change and variability?
What are the decision-making processes to respond to climate variability? What are the adaptation processes to prepare for climate change and variability? How well do they work?

Objectives

to provide balanced and credible information to Canadians within the Prairie Provinces to increase their awareness and understanding of climate change and variability, possible impacts, adaptation and vulnerability;
to identify stakeholder information needs, concerns, opportunities and misconceptions;
to determine stakeholders' understanding of potential impacts and adaptation options;
There will be one meeting in each of the three prairie provinces to help prepare for a larger workshop in January / February 2001. These meetings will bring together key players from both the rural and urban areas.

Deliverables and Time line

Supply each participant with climate change background information prior to the meeting one week prior to meeting.
Convene Mini-Workshops (Saskatchewan - University of Regina, Manitoba - Winnipeg, Alberta - Edmonton)
Prepare an analysis of the Mini-Workshops and distribute it to the participants and PARC officials
Based on the results of the Mini-Workshops, submit a proposal to PARC in fall of 2000 to convene a larger workshop in January/February 2001.

WORKSHOP AGENDA

PARC Communities Workshop: Identifying the Challenges and Opportunities presented by Climate Change - Don Lemmen (Geological Survey of Canada)

Climate Change Scenario Development - An Uncertain Future - Elaine Barrow (Environment Canada)

Prairie Cities: Potential Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change - Virginia Wittrock (Saskatchewan Research Council)

Rural Social Cohesion - Dave Gauthier (Canadian Plains Research Centre)

Case Studies

Purpose - to find common ground and to demonstrate impacts and adaptation
(e.g., the effect of the 1988 drought, the effect of a flood or other extreme events).

Energy Supplies in the Future for the Prairies - Bryan Kybett (University of Regina Energy Research Unit)

Water Resources and Climate Extremes - Preparing for the Abnormal! - Ron Hopkinson (Environment Canada)

Agriculture - Risks and Opportunities - Ted O'Brien (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration)

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Presentation - Howard McMaster (FSIN Executive Director )

Round Table Discussion