Climate Change

Reduce. Prepare. Champion.

   

The science is clear. In Canada, climate change will see temperatures rise two times faster than the global average. In New Brunswick we are already seeing increases in the number of hot days, rainfall amounts, storm severity, and in sea level rise.

To mitigate and adapt to this new reality, we must all take steps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, to prepare our communities for climate change impacts, and to champion the need to take action so we can rise to this challenge.


What’s New

New Brunswick Climate Action Ed Competition

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) is hosting the New Brunswick Climate Action Ed Competition from February 14 - April 19, 2024. This is an opportunity for all Grade 6-12 students from Anglophone districts in New Brunswick to become more informed about climate change, and empowered to take action!

  • Free and Easy to Use
  • $2,500 in Cash Prizes for schools
  • Aligns with New Brunswick Curriculum

Click her for an information pack for educators New Brunswick Climate Action Ed Competition

Get ready for climate action for Earth Day.

 

Greening the Spark

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development is celebrating the launch of “Greening the Spark”, a campaign to promote environmental and climate engagement in francophone schools in NB. 

Thanks to this campaign, several initiatives will be launched between now and 2027.  This year, on Earth Day, an engagement guide and eco-citizen education model will be available to schools and the community which contain simple pathways, practical tips and resources for schools and the development of learning related to eco-citizenship.  These resources are available in French only.

 

New Brunswick’s Climate Change Action Plan 2022-2027

The Climate Change Action Plan 2022-2027 includes 30 new actions that are necessary to address New Brunswick’s climate change priorities and ultimately make the lives of all New Brunswickers more sustainable, affordable, and resilient in the face of climate change.

New Brunswick’s Climate Change Action Plan Progress Report 2022-2023

New Brunswick’s Climate Change Action Plan Progress Report 2022-2023 The Progress Report features an overview of provincial climate action and a highlight from all action taken since the launch of the 2022 Action Plan. Also included is New Brunswick’s GHG emissions intensity (GHG/GDP) and the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report 2023 data for New Brunswick

Climate change and your health

The climate-related hazard that may affect your health and tools that organizations can use to assess their readiness.

   

What is climate change?

Climate change is the change in average weather conditions – such as temperature and rainfall – in a region over a long period of time. Our climate varies naturally over long periods of time; however, human-caused climate change has accelerated the rate of change we are seeing today. As carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions build up in our atmosphere, changes in our climate will become more frequent and severe – which we are already seeing in New Brunswick.

We must all take action on climate change

  

Reduce

To mitigate climate change, we must reduce the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are in the atmosphere. Taking action to reduce our emissions and fight climate change is necessary, and something we can all take part in. By making both small and large lifestyle changes, we can collectively reduce our emissions, or our carbon footprint.

5 ways you can REDUCE your carbon footprint:

  1. Reduce your home’s energy consumption by purchasing energy efficient appliances and enrolling in Save Energy NB Programs.
  2. Heat and cool your home with efficient and renewable energy like heat- pumps, geothermal and solar panels.
  3. Make climate-smart transportation and commuting choices like walking, biking, public transit or carpooling.
  4. Take advantage of government incentives and purchase a hybrid or electric vehicle and charge your vehicle at home overnight during off-peak hours.
  5. Reduce your food footprint by purchasing local and remembering to waste less food through meal planning, saving leftovers and composting what’s left.

To learn more about ways the Government of New Brunswick is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, visit the Climate Change Action Plan Progress Report.

To learn more about New Brunswick’s greenhouse gas emissions, visit the GHG Emissions Dashboard.

REDUCE

Download our REDUCE infographic for more information


Prepare

Taking steps to prepare for the impacts of climate change – including increased frequency of rainfall and flooding events, severity of extreme weather events, and hotter and colder temperature – is called climate change adaptation.

Climate change adaptation is about making well informed forward-looking decisions that take into consideration future climate conditions. Some of these activities are things you can do as an individual or family, and others are the kind of things that need to be worked on as a group, with support from and/or in collaboration with government, communities, developers, non-profit organizations and others.   

Climate change adaptation is all about prevention, preparedness and building resiliency.

5 ways you can PREPARE yourself and your community:

  1. Prepare for extreme weather events with a 72 hour emergency kit.
  2. Take steps to keep cool in hot weather.
  3. Direct rainwater away from your home using downspouts, landscaping, and rain gardens.
  4. Remove hazardous trees on your property that could damage your home during storm events.
  5. Learn about areas impacted by climate change and climate change adaptation planning in your community.

To learn more about ways the Government of New Brunswick is preparing for the impacts of climate change, visit the Climate Change Action Plan Progress Report.

 

PREPARE

Download our PREPARE infographic for more information

 

Reduce your risk to the impacts of climate change, visit Flooding in NB


Champion

Becoming a climate change champion means learning about the climate change work that our neighbours, community organizations, and governments are already undertaking and building off of these to increase climate change action and awareness.

We must become active supporters and leaders of the climate change initiatives in our communities.  Rising to the challenge of climate change is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and our communities now.

5 ways you can CHAMPION the need to take action

  1. Educate yourself on the need for climate action and use reliable sources of climate information.
  2. Get involved in your community’s Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plans.
  3. Reduce your household’s carbon footprint and discuss carbon reduction initiatives at your workplace.
  4. Volunteer for and celebrate climate-friendly initiatives in your community.
  5. Talk to your friends and family about climate change and build a community of champions.

To learn more about ways the Government of New Brunswick is leading action on climate change, visit the Climate Change Action Plan Progress Report.

CHAMPION

Download our CHAMPION infographic for more information

   

   

Interactive tools

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Click here to access the Carbon Footprint Calculator.

GHG Emissions Dashboard

Click here to access the GHG Emissions Dashboard.

New Brunswick Flood Hazard Maps

Click here to access the New Brunswick Flood Hazard Maps.

   

Contact us

The Climate Change Secretariat is a team of dedicated individuals responsible for coordinating the Government of New Brunswick’s response to climate change and the implementation of the Province’s Climate Change Action Plan. The Secretariat engages locally, nationally, and internationally on climate related issues impacting New Brunswick.

The Climate Change Secretariat can be reached at [email protected]