The New Normal

A comprehensive and up-to-date overview of climate change in the Prairie provinces, along with strategies for adapting to the "new normal." The present climate crisis shows no sign of abatement. On the contrary, it is becoming more intense, and there are increasing uncertainties and fears about the outcome of the process of climate transformation. The complexity of this transformation is, to a large extent, a product of the intricate relationships between natural and social systems, both of them complex systems on their own. There is a strong consensus that climate change is the product of human activities that raise the concentrations of greenhouse gases and, consequently, increase global average temperatures. Global warming has led to regional climate changes, which are increasingly impacting the dynamics of local natural and social systems and their interrelationships. These impacts, which are expected to increase, could bring serious risks and damages to ecosystems and livelihoods, disrupting the precarious balance between people and their environment. The natural and social systems of the Canadian Prairies are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The New Normal brings together the work of 24 scholars representing various disciplines, who present their diverse knowledge and expertise about climate change and its impacts in the Prairie Provinces. In addition to providing information about and analysis of the multiple dimensions of the crisis, these scholars seek solutions to the problems and discuss options for taking advantage of new opportunities provided by a warmer climate.