A recent study reveals that Canada’s shorelines are inadequately protected, with the three territories lacking dedicated plans for managing their rapidly eroding Arctic coastline. The report, conducted by the University of Waterloo’s Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, assessed Canada’s marine coastline and Great Lakes shoreline, highlighting the escalating risks faced by communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure due to erosion, sea-level rise, storm surges, permafrost thaw, and extreme weather events.
Anabela Bonada, a co-author of the report, emphasized the critical importance of coastal areas to millions of people who live near them or depend on them for various activities. She noted the economic significance of coastlines but warned that they are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related hazards, such as rising sea levels and intensified storms causing flooding and erosion.
Although the federal government has set a target for 80% of coastal communities to implement adaptation strategies by 2027, Bonada pointed out the absence of a national framework for shoreline management in Canada. While some provinces have their management plans, others, including all three territories, lack comprehensive strategies.
The report suggests the implementation of regional shoreline management plans nationwide to address the issue collaboratively across different regions without being constrained by local or territorial boundaries. In the Arctic region, the unique threat of permafrost thaw is accelerating erosion rates, posing significant challenges for coastal communities.
Hugues Lantuit, a permafrost researcher at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, highlighted the alarming erosion rates on the northern Yukon coast, emphasizing the need for community involvement in developing effective coastal management plans. He stressed the importance of protecting the Arctic coastline, which is not only home to critical infrastructure but also holds cultural significance with traditional Inuit sites.
Lantuit emphasized the necessity of forming a dedicated group with innovative leadership to address the erosion threats and develop a formal plan, especially in regions like the northern Yukon and N.W.T. where indigenous communities like the Inuvialuit are actively engaged in land management and erosion mitigation efforts.
Despite the challenges posed by the small Arctic population, Lantuit emphasized the importance of safeguarding the coastline due to its strategic military installations, cultural heritage sites, and ecological significance. He underscored the urgency of creating a comprehensive protection plan to preserve the Arctic’s fragile coastline for future generations.