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Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change (2011) 16:347368
DOI 10.1007/s11027-010-9269-3
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Tristan D. Pearce & James David Ford & Jason Prno & Frank Duerden & Jeremy Pittman & Maude Beaumier & Lea Berrang-Ford & Barry Smit
Received: 23 August 2010 /Accepted: 12 October 2010 / Published online: 28 October 2010# Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010
Abstract Climate is an important component of the operating environment for the Canadian mining sector. However, in recent years mines across Canada have been affected by significant climatic hazards, several which are regarded to be symptomatic of climate change. For the mining sector, climate change is a pressing environmental threat and a significant business risk. The extent to which the mining sector is able to mitigate its own impact and adapt to climate change will affect its long-term success and prosperity, and
T. D. Pearce (*) : B. Smit
Department of Geography, University of Guelph, 20 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canadae-mail: [email protected]
B. Smite-mail: [email protected]
J. D. Ford : M. Beaumier : L. Berrang-Ford
Department of Geography, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2K6, Canada
J. D. Forde-mail: [email protected]
M. Beaumiere-mail: [email protected]
L. Berrang-Forde-mail: [email protected]
J. Prno
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5, Canadae-mail: [email protected]
F. Duerden
Department of Geography, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada e-mail: [email protected]
J. Pittman
Department of Geography, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada e-mail: [email protected]
Climate change and mining in Canada
348 Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change (2011) 16:347368
have profound economic consequences for host communities. This paper draws upon case studies conducted with mining operations in Canada involving in-depth interviews with mining professionals and analysis of secondary sources to characterize the vulnerability of the Canadian mining industry to climate change. Five key findings are discussed: i) mines in the case studies are affected by climate events that are indicative of climate change, with examples of negative impacts over the past decade; ii) most mine infrastructure has been designed assuming that the climate is not changing; iii) most industry stakeholders interviewed view climate change as a minor concern; iv) limited adaption planning for future climate change is underway; v) significant vulnerabilities exist in the post-operational phase of mines. This paper argues for...