There is a lot of discussion about the negative impact of a changing climate, but there are positive changes expected as well.
Louise Comeau from the Conservation Council of New Brunswick says with warmer temperatures, seasons will change.
She says we can expect Spring to come earlier, and we will have fewer frost days.
“So agriculture, the growing season is lengthening, we know that tree budding is happening somewhat earlier, so we may to grow more things here than we have in the past, but that depends though on what happens with bugs,” says Comeau.
She says with higher temperatures, more insects and pests will be coming northward.
She adds the forestry sector will change as well, since softwood lumber will not survive in the warmer temperatures.
“We need to be switching back to a more traditional Acadian mixed tree, mixed species,” says Comeau. “[We need to] Invest more in hardwood plantings, because we have the potential there to have a forest that’s delivering for us a product we can create value added products around.”
Comeau adds the biggest potential benefits are in the energy sector, as the world turns to renewables.
“The big change will be in electricity where we shift to more renewable energy like solar, wind, biomass, and tidal power,” says Comeau. “All of those changes will generate jobs potentially, particularly good paying jobs as we build this infrastructure.”
