Section A: Short Critical Reflections (30 marks)
Select one of the assigned readings in each topic in Module 3 and write a short critical reflection (about 250 words) for each (a total of three critical reflections; ten marks for each reflection). You may find it helpful to use one or more of the focus questions included in the activity as a guide.
The focus questions and links of the articles are attached below:
Activity 1: BC’s Physical and Human Landscapes
Reading
Read pages 333–337 (up to Section 2.2) of Chapter 8 “British Columbia” by Ian Walker and Rodney Sydneysmith in the Government of Canada report From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007.
· Walker, I. J., & Sydneysmith, R. (2008). Chapter 8: British Columbia. In D. S. Lemmen, F. Warren, J. Lacroix, & E. Bush (Eds.), From impacts to adaptation: Canada in a changing climate 2007. Retrieved from the Government of Canada website: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/earthsciences/pdf/assess/2007/pdf/ch8_e.pdf
Focus Question
1. Describe some of the features of BC’s human and physical landscape.
2. Explain the two major ocean-atmosphere phenomena that strongly influence climate variability in BC.
3. What three lessons emerge from the prehistoric climate record?
Activity 4: Impacts on Health
Reading
Read pages 210–213 of Chapter 3 in Canada in a Changing Climate: Sector Perspectives on Impacts and Adaptation.
· Lemmen, D. S., Johnston, M., Ste-Marie, C., & Pearce, T. (2014). Chapter 3: Natural resources. In F. J. Warren & D. S. Lemmen (Eds.), Canada in a changing climate: Sector perspectives on impacts and adaptation (pp. 210-213). Retrieved from the Government of Canada website: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/earthsciences/pdf/assess/2014/pdf/Full-Report_Eng.pdf
Focus Questions
1. List some of the risk categories, risk factors, and health impacts for British Columbia.
2. Identify the heat vulnerable groups and some examples of challenges for each group.
Activity 7: Barriers and Challenges
Reading
Read pages 269–270 (starting at Section 4.2) and page 280 in Canada in a Changing Climate: Sector Perspectives on Impacts and Adaptation.
· Warren F. J. & Lemmen, D. S. (Eds.). (2014). Canada in a changing climate: Sector perspectives on impacts and adaptation. Retrieved from the Government of Canada website: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/earthsciences/pdf/assess/2014/pdf/Full-Report_Eng.pdf
Focus Questions
1. List some of the barriers/challenges to adaptation.
2. What suggestions are given for overcoming these barriers/challenges?
Section B: Essay (70 marks)
Now that you have a general understanding of the observed and potential impacts of climate change in British Columbia, write an essay of 750–1000 words on how you think an altered climate may change people’s lifestyle expectations and attitudes in BC. This requires giving further thought to the potential impacts of climate change that you examined throughout the module and evaluating the significance of those impacts. For example, how might a changed climate affect where people locate, insurance policies, health issues, and so on? And which factors may limit or strengthen people’s and/or communities’ ability to adapt to climate change?
You must reference the course resources that you use in your paper. You are encouraged to use additional references, but they are not required for this assignment. A strong paper will consider the implications of three potential impacts.