A climate of concern: Record heat is bad news
By D'arcy Doran
Copyright 1998 The Toronto Sun
August 25, 1998
This year's shaping up as the hottest in weather-record history -- but that's
not good news, the federal environment ministry says.
The first seven months of 1998 have been the warmest on record in Canada with
temperatures 2.7 C above the mean average of the period from 1951-1980.
Canada saw its second warmest winter, its hottest spring and this summer will
likely be the most sweltering since the national temperature records began in
1948.
July was the warmest in 50 years and August temperatures are 1.5-2.5 C higher
than normal. The first seven months were also the hottest
around the world -- according to 150 years of records.
The rising temperatures show the decade's warming trend is continuing, the
environment ministry said. It suggests pollution is changing Canada's climate.
The heat difference has been felt most in the northern part of the Northwest
Territories where temperatures are 5 C above
normal.
"Clearly the time has come to view our climate as a serious issue," Environment Minister Christine Stewart said.
A federal report last November warned
global warming will lead to droughts, floods, death and disease in Canada in the next
century.
The feds are working with
provinces to meet Canada's Kyoto commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
to 6% below 1990 levels by 2012.
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