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8 CLIMATE CHANGE ALBERTAS BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity is the variety of species and ecosystems on Earth and the ecological processes of which they are a part.2 This natural diversity is important to the well-being of Albertans because it supports a variety of tangible benefits for our communities such as clean drinking water and protection from floods and it is the basis on which our natural resource economies including agriculture and forestry are built. In addition Albertas biodiversity represents our shared natural heritage many Albertans identify with aspects of biodiversity - specific plants animals or natural environments - that represent cultural values. Climate change is now occurring at a pace faster than at any other time in our experi- ence.34 Albertas biodiversity has and will continue to respond to changes in climate including through species adaptations to new conditions and shifts in their distributions. There will also be consequences for human communities and the livelihoods of individual Albertans through changes to agriculture forestry recreation flood-control and other services provided by native ecosystems. The potential implications of climate change for biodiversity and human communities are far-reaching. Because even the most effective reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions will not prevent climate change there is widespread recognition that planning for these changes is critical.56 Climate change adapta- tion involves anticipating the consequences both positive and negative of climate change and responding to reduce identified risks and capitalize on any opportunities.7 Understandingandanticipatingthepotential impactsofclimatechangeonAlbertasbiodiver- sityisnecessarytoensurethattodaysdecisions aboutlandusenaturalresourcemanagement andconservationarerelevantandeffectiveover thelongtermandtoinitiatethenecessaryshifts inpolicyandpracticethatwillberequiredto supportdecisionmakinginthefuture. 2 Environment Canada. 1995. Canadian Biodiversity Strategy Canadas Response to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Hull Quebec 86 pp. 3 Government of Alberta. 2008. Albertas 2008 Climate Change Strategy. Available at httpesrd.alberta.cafocusalberta-and-climate-changeclimate-change-strategydocumentsAlbertaClimateChangeStrategy-2008.pdf 4 IPCC. 2013. Summary for Policymakers. In Climate Change 2013 The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press New York NY pp. 1-30. 5 Warren F.J. and D.S. Lemmen editors. 2014. Canada in a Changing Climate Sector Perspectives on Impacts and Adaptation. Government of Canada Ottawa ON 286 pp. 6 IPCC. 2014. Summary for Policymakers. In Climate Change 2014 Impacts Adaptation and Vulnerability. Part A Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press New York NY pp. 1-32. 7 Ibid.