econext has released a series of recommendations for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to consider in the development of its new Climate Change Action Plan.
Embracing proactivity in the pursuit of net zero can ensure that decarbonization is not something that ‘happens to’ NL, but rather it is something NL is helping to design, lead, and benefit from.
There are many different activities that NL could take to fight climate change. econext has attempted to focus on a small number of direct actions that can be taken that will have the greatest positive impact. econext considered environmental and economic impacts, aspiring to arrive at recommendations that were likely to achieve significant results for both.
In developing these recommendations, econext engaged its membership, leveraged the different areas of expertise of its 13 full-time staff, and was guided by its Board of Directors.
econext arrived at 19 recommendations spread across 7 distinct themes:
The objective of this research was to better understand the potential for hydrogen production associated with Canada’s offshore oil and gas industry and the role that such production can play in supporting the net zero objectives of Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.
This post is part of a series of articles to help create awareness of green economy challenges and opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador
In late September 2022, residents of Channel-Port aux Basques experienced a storm like no other.
Fiona reached the town located at the extreme southwestern tip of Newfoundland as a post-tropical storm equivalent to a Category 2 Atlantic Hurricane. It lashed out against the coastal town with winds whipped up to 135 kilometers per hour and a storm surge that broke the record for the highest water level ever recorded in the area.
Family homes which had stood for generations were ripped from their foundations. The sheer force of the event left an indelible mark on the landscape and amidst the chaos, a sense of resilience emerged as communities came together to support each other through the turbulent times.
Fiona’s toll included widespread physical destruction to homes and businesses, and a community reeling with unimaginable loss. For those living in so many of the coastal communities in this province, the storm also leaves behind an uncertain future. With the world getting warmer due to climate change, they can likely expect more intense hurricanes to reach their shores. In other words, the storms that do hit are going to hit harder than ever before.
To protect against the impacts of powerful storms – whether through improved forecasting tools, stronger infrastructure, or government policy – coastal communities need to adapt to climate change impacts to safeguard themselves from the increasingly destructive forces of nature.
When it comes to predicting and preparing for hurricanes, understanding their ingredients is key.
Just like a cookie needs the right balance of sugar, flour, and butter to turn out perfectly, a hurricane needs certain conditions to form and strengthen.
First and foremost, warm ocean water is essential, with a surface temperature of at least 26 degrees Celsius required. As the saying goes, “heat rises,” and it’s no different with hurricanes. The warmer the water, the more energy is available to fuel the storm.
Next, there needs to be plenty of moisture in the air. This helps feed the storm and keeps it growing.
Low wind shear is also crucial. This refers to the difference in wind speed and direction at different altitudes. If there is too much wind shear, it can disrupt the storm’s circulation and weaken it.
Finally, there needs to be certain atmospheric conditions or a disturbance in place, such as a thunderstorm, for a hurricane to form. Without this initial spark, the storm won’t have anything to build upon. Imagine blending all these elements together, like the ingredients of a recipe, and what do you get? A hurricane, right? Well, not always. Even when all these factors align perfectly, the magic doesn’t guarantee that a hurricane will emerge every time. It’s like nature’s own unpredictable masterpiece!
Hurricane return periods tell us how often we can expect a hurricane of a certain strength to hit a particular area. For instance, a return period of 20 years for a major hurricane means that, historically, a Category 3 or higher hurricane has made landfall within 50 nautical miles of that location an average of five times in the past 100 years. Therefore, we could anticipate around five more of these severe storms to hit that area over the next century. In our new climate reality, we’re staring down the barrel of a future where these extreme weather events are becoming more frequent (unless we take drastic action to combat climate change) rather than generational events.
Trying to figure out how climate change will affect hurricanes might seem really hard. But with advanced global climate models, a deep understanding of how hurricanes work, and looking at past hurricane patterns, scientists are getting better at predicting these strong storms. Still, it’s important to remember that there’s some uncertainty, even though we’re making progress in how we study them. So, there’s hope, but we’re not completely certain yet.
Did you know:
Hurricane Fiona was the costliest extreme weather event ever recorded in Atlantic Canada, with an estimated $660 million in insured damages. Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ)
It takes a community
The community of Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove (LBMCOC) is nestled on the northeastern coast of the Avalon Peninsula. Residents there are all too familiar with the mounting threats posed by a rise in the frequency and severity of fall and winter storms.
With the relative sea level rising on the Avalon peninsula, residents find themselves at the mercy of higher storm surges and increased wave action which cause coastal erosion. Heavier rains bring flooding, landslides, and impacts river water quality, posing a danger to public health.
In 2010, the town participated in the piloting of a climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning workbook. Through a series of community discussions, residents and local leaders identified key climate-related issues affecting the town and mapped out areas that were particularly vulnerable to flooding.
The town council concluded that they needed to be proactive concerning the things they can control within their municipal boundaries by implementing adaptation options to reduce flood risks into the future. These included:
Rezoning vulnerable areas in sensitive areas, like wetlands, and protecting waterways
Lining ditches with rock and material designed to reduce the velocity of water flows
Diverting flows from waterways that are more susceptible to damage from flood events (e.g., damming, storing overflow)
Establishing more routine checks on existing culverts and bridges to keep the areas clear of debris and tree falls
Strategies for communication in the event of a flood
Water Control: How to beat the flooding odds
When it comes to sewer backup and basement flooding due to extreme weather, homes are taking a beating. The good news is that this damage is largely preventable. That’s why local governments and private property owners must act now to turn the tide.
A comprehensive strategy which includes communication, local actions, and incentives for private property owners is key to reducing the risk of damage from sewer backup and basement flooding caused by extreme weather events.
Coastal towns in Newfoundland and Labrador can look to other communities across Canada for inspiration and best practices. Many have taken it upon themselves to solve this problem. They set a great example for the rest by taking important actions that reduce the risk of basement flooding like the installation of backwater valves, sump pumps, storm lateral replacement or lot grading.
Newfoundland’s coastal communities were built to survive. These actions demonstrate the ingenuity and determination of the residents of LBMCOC in the face of a rapidly changing climate. With communities around the world facing similar challenges as sea levels continue to rise and storm events become more intense, it is time for government leaders and policy makers at all levels to take notice and take action. By addressing, and adapting to, the impacts of climate change today, our coastal towns and cities may continue to thrive in the face of adversity.
Acknowledgements and Resources
Written by Dave Lank with contributions from Sepehr Khosravi
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (2012). Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove Case Study. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment by Policy and Planning Division of Department of Environment and Conservation.
econext has released a discussion paper which explores the economic development opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador that are associated with the emerging clean fuels industry.
“We believe that clean fuels production presents an enormous opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador, its economy, and its communities,” said Kieran Hanley, econext‘s CEO – referring to the wind energy to hydrogen projects being proposed within the province.
Hanley said it is important to view the potential benefits of the emerging industry beyond just those that come with construction and operations and the export of a commodity. “Newfoundland and Labrador has the potential to be among the first in the world to produce clean fuels at this scale, and with that comes a series of time-sensitive opportunities to position ourselves as leaders in innovation and training and attract more green industry.”
“The purpose of this discussion paper is twofold,” said Hanley. “First, we want to create a greater awareness of the opportunities that are before the province, and second we want to get decison-makers and stakeholders thinking about how we go about pursuing those opportunities.” Hanley said that the discussion paper is intended to be the start of the conversation, and is not a definitive or conclusive report. “We welcome any and all feedback that can help us better understand these opportunities.”
“I would like to thank all of the econext members who provided their time and many of the ideas that are represented in the paper,” said Hanley. “econext looks forward to doing its best to advance many of the opportunities identified on your behalf.”
econext is an association of businesses that accelerates clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador and works on behalf of over 200 members to foster environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.
It is well established that electric vehicles will reduce GHG emissions, however there have been recent concerns about the downstream environmental impacts – particularly with the disposal of batteries. Taking a circular economy approach to the waste management of batteries makes sense but, in general, economics for established methods of waste management are difficult to adopt in Newfoundland and Labrador due to economies of scale and geography. This discussion paper explores the challenges and the possibilities.
Building on discussions held at the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Workshop in September, this white paper explores technical, economic, and policy considerations related to advancing the technology and its application in the Newfoundland and Labrador context.
This white paper is a product of The Net Zero Project. The Net Zero Project was formed by Energy NL, econext, and OilCo in early 2022 with a primary objective to ensure the long-term sustainable future of the Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas industry by embracing and analyzing lower-emission pathways in line with broader provincial and national objectives of achieving net zero by 2050.
econext engaged with 42 community stakeholders across the province to understand their climate action priorities. The purpose of the research was to help econext understand the current level of climate action taking place in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the future initiatives and projects that were being prioritized.
In 2022 econext worked with Springboard Atlantic Inc. to determine opportunities to identify value from waste across four primary resources sectors within Atlantic Canada including fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, and agriculture.
The intent of the project was to identify waste management challenges faced by these sectors and the potential role of research and development (R&D) in addressing these challenges by extracting value from waste streams.
The scope of work included extensive stakeholder engagement through interviews with industry, the preparation of a summary report on value from waste opportunities, the evaluation of potential challenges including the development of an evaluation matrix and prioritization of challenges, the drafting of potential “challenge” statements to guide potential Springboard engagement in R&D on behalf of industry, vetting of challenge statements with industry and institutions, and finalization of challenge statements.
As the work of econext is cross-cutting through the province’s economy, it provides the organization with a unique and holistic perspective on the concepts of green jobs and the just transition specific to Newfoundland and Labrador. This document is a response to the Government of Canada’s discussion paper titled ‘People-Centred Just Transition’.
econext, in partnership with the Maritimes Energy Association (MEA) and with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has released a report “Atlantic Canada’s Green Potential – Jobs and Skills Toward Clean Growth”. The report helps define what a ‘green job’ means in context of Atlantic Canada’s economy.
