Examine the implications of climate change on Arctic marine ecosystems.

What success looks like

Greater knowledge and understanding of the changes occurring in Canada's Arctic and a better understanding of how Canada might adapt to ensure the continued welfare of Canada's Arctic communities.

Government's narrative on progress

The official opening of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) will significantly enhance Arctic research, including on the impacts of climate change. The Government of Canada is also investing in the Aquatic Climate Change Adaptation Services Program to conduct the research and monitoring necessary to identify climate change impacts and vulnerabilities, develop adaptation tools, and improve ocean forecasting in vulnerable coastal regions to inform management decisions. This Program has supported ocean chemistry monitoring, fisheries vulnerability assessments and predictive modelling activities in the Arctic. As part of the Oceans Protection Plan, the government will be working with Indigenous and coastal communities to collect baseline environmental information at six sites across Canada, including one in the Arctic. The government has also concluded new international agreements to strengthen Arctic scientific cooperation, including signing the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean in October 2018 which, after ratification by all parties, will include a joint program of research and monitoring to improve understanding of the ecosystems. The Government of Canada participated in the Arctic Science Ministerial in September 2016 and October 2018, helping to advance several joint international research projects. The Canadian Space Agency is collaborating on a US-France mission—Surface Water & Ocean Topography—that will provide the first global survey of earth surface water, ocean surface topography, ocean currents, and measure change over time. In addition, the Government of Canada has committed to work together in collaboration with northern partners to better understand the “Last Ice Area.” This region in the high Arctic is the only region that is expected to retain summer sea ice until 2050. Research and monitoring activities in coastal and offshore marine ecosystems are increasing understanding of the changes occurring in Canada’s Arctic as well as understanding of Arctic ecosystems and the impact of climate change on species and habitats. To support ongoing scientific research in the High Arctic, Budget 2019 proposes up to $21.8 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, for the Eureka Weather Station on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. This investment will support critical repairs and necessary upgrades to the station’s systems such as the aircraft runway, sewage, ventilation and plumbing and will help ensure continued safe operations of the site for weather and climate forecasting and as a key hub for Arctic research and government military operations. In addition, the Polar Continental Shelf Program provides critical logistics support—such as coordinating air charters and supplying field equipment—to Canadian researchers seeking to advance our understanding of the North. Budget 2019 proposes up to $10 million, over two years, starting in 2019–20, to help the Program to respond to growing demand.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.