Victoria, Calgary, Canada, post bilateral conversations

Nov 12, 2020 by Victoria

For the bilateral meeting Canada met with  Ghana to discuss how climate change is affecting both countries. Ghana is experiencing changes in the two main seasons, the dry season and rainy season. It is raining less when it should be, this is leading to a inadequate supply of water which affects their ability to grow crops and generate electricity  since Ghana uses hydro power and the spread of diseases such as malaria, cholera and typhoid. This puts pressure on the health care system. When there is too much water and there is flooding, the water degrades the roads and buildings which are not designed for lots of water. Canada is experiencing shorter, warmer winters and longer, hotter summers. This is leading to an increase in heatwaves and more frequent, stronger wildfires. The warmer winters mean there is less snow and ice,  warmer winters mean glaciers cannot grow. Glaciers supply fresh water which is used for agriculture and drinking, bathing and other uses. Glaciers also supply fresh water to lakes and rivers.

The cold winter also helps kill pine beetle and tick (which spread Lyme disease), the warmer winters don't kill the pine beetles and ticks and their population grows as a result which kills trees and spread disease. Melting sea ice is another huge problem Canada faces, sea ice  is used for many animals and indigenous peoples to hunt and travel. Without it animals such as polar bears suffer greatly. Melting permafrost releasing methane and CO2 gas into the atmosphere. Bacteria and viruses also are unfrozen. Rising sea levels and flooding is a major concern for coastal areas, especially since it damages infrastructure and poses a danger to human life. 

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