Assessing Climate Change Risk and Resilience in the Yukon
Priority 7 Risks to the Yukon's economy
Findings: The assessment did not complete a comprehensive analysis on climate change impacts
on Yukon's economy. It did outline preliminary findings for the agriculture, energy, tourism and
mining sectors (see Table 13).
Climate projections show that in Yukon, agriculture has the potential to expand due to warmer
temperatures and longer growing seasons (Streicker 2016). Although this may increase food
security by reducing Yukon's reliance on southern imports, the assessment suggests that local food
production will need to be scaled up extensively to take advantage of climate-related opportunities.
This includes securing a labour force, land, storage facilities and economic support. Potential
solutions are outlined in the Government of Yukon's 2020 agriculture policy, and the City of
Whitehorse 2020 Local Food and Urban Agriculture Study.
For the electricity sector, climate change impacts pose risks for hydroelectricity transmission and
storage. In the Yukon, the Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) found that the territory's generation of
hydro power is not expected to be negatively impacted by climate change (NCE 2014). This is
because anticipated increases in temperatures and precipitation will generally lead to increased
water flow from early spring to late fall, which will enable more electricity for a longer period (ibid.).
YEC is currently evaluating the potential for climate change impacts to pose risks to the transmis-
sion of energy; for example, from damage to powerlines from forest fires or permafrost thaw. YEC is
considering this information as part of its ongoing operations and maintenance. Through Our Clean
Future, YEC is evaluating how changing water conditions, changing water levels and increased river
flows could affect the Aishihik and Mayo dams, and the potential downstream impacts to
communities. This information will be used in dam classification (per the Canadian Dam
Association) and will inform adaptation planning. Completing these actions on time will help
build resilience.
PAGE 34
Climate change impacts pose risks for activities
such as snowmobiling, because of environmen-
tal conditions that are increasingly variable and
difficult to predict. This includes changes to
snow and ice cover as well as variable, uncertain
and extreme weather.
ASSESSING CLIMATE CHANGE: RISK AND RESILIENCE IN THE YUKONView entire presentation