Canadian cities to face more heat waves, report finds

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is preparing to launch its second report this year, which found that Canada can expect to see major issues around heat waves and water shortages, reports the Toronto Star. The Star obtained a near-final draft of the reports technical summary, and reported that nearly six pages of the document are devoted to climate change impact and vulnerability in North America and the polar regions. For the Great Lakes and major river systems, lower water levels are likely to exacerbate issues of water quality, navigation, hydro-power generation, water diversions and bi-national co-operation, the IPCC summary suggests.The Star also reported that a recurring theme is higher health and safety risk in North American cities because of heat waves.Severe heat waves, characterized by stagnant, warm air masses and consecutive nights with high minimum temperatures, are likely to intensify in magnitude and duration over portions of the U.S. and Canada, where they already occur, the researchers said.By 2050, deaths linked to smog could increase by almost five per cent because of higher ozone levels in cities already blighted by smog, the Star reported.In addition, warmer temperatures affecting snowfall and rain over the Rockies by mid-century will probably reduce the summer flow in rivers and increase the risk of winter flooding.The report, a joint effort by a team of representatives from 120 governments, is currently being edited in Brussels and will be released on Friday.