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Climate Change Studies

Ontario continues to be a leader in efforts to improve air quality and address climate change. Ontario supports a national process that will allow Canada to continue to fight climate change. Meanwhile, the province continues to take action now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and study the potential impacts of climate change.

Developing new initiatives and building on existing programs, the Ontario government is committed to ensuring the momentum for clean air actions in the province continues. The following is a sampling of research Ontario is undertaking to address climate change.

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The Impacts of Climate Change on Ontario's Forests

[PDF 1227KB] [HTML Format]

There is growing evidence that environmental changes caused by elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and its potential effects on global climate will alter forest ecosystems in Ontario. Forest fires, insects, diseases, water availability, and plant physiological responses can all be affected by a changing environment.

This report reviews literature concerning the effects of global climate change on forest plants and communities and provides author's opinions of the potential impacts climate change may have on Ontario's forests.

Quantifying Ontario's Forest Carbon Budget: Carbon Stocks and Fluxes of Forest Ecosystems in 1990

[PDF 1926KB] [HTML Format]

Forests cover about 45 per cent of Canada and almost 60 per cent of Ontario. Canada has about 10 per cent of the world's forests. Forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle, exchanging carbon with the atmosphere through photosynthesis and respiration, and storing a large amount of carbon in vegetation and soil. Forests (and how they are managed) could help Canada achieve a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by increasing the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in both vegetation and soil.

If forests are to be used to help meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, it is important to have an accurate picture of the state of Ontario's forests in 1990 – the base year for accounting for greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.

This report describes the use of a well-established model to study the carbon budget of Ontario's forest ecosystems. The report examines carbon stocks and movements in Ontario forest ecosystems, evaluates their contribution to the forest carbon budget of Canada in 1990, and identifies the uncertainties, gaps and future challenges in determining Ontario's forest carbon budget over time.

Critical Review of Historical and Current Tree Planting Programs on Private Lands in Ontario

[PDF 212KB] [HTML Format]

Ontario has a rich legacy of tree planting on private lands dating back to the late 1800s. The millions of hectares of plantations now prominent on the southern and central Ontario landscape provide an array of environmental and societal benefits including clean air and water, flood and erosion control, provision of wood products and wildlife habitat, and recreational areas close to major population centres.

This report reviews tree planting programs including Agreement Forests, Woodlands Improvement Agreements and tree planting programs by many of Ontario's Conservation Authorities. Lessons learned from these tree planting programs include tree planting techniques, tending and harvesting techniques, and a greater awareness of the ecological role of plantation forests.

A Review of Current and Potential Seedling Production in Ontario for Afforestation

[PDF 433KB] [HTML Format]

Large-scale tree planting programs may be necessary if Ontario, and Canada, want to make full use of the forest carbon sequestration provisions of the Kyoto Protocol. The MNR initiated this project to determine if private growers are able to produce enough high quality seedlings to meet anticipated tree planting needs of private land owners. The study also assesses the potential seedling supply for programs related to climate change and carbon sequestration.

This report presents the results of workshops and discussions held with private container seedling growers across Ontario to determine the current and future availability of seed and seedling stock for planting trees. The report also examines limitations which may exist in meeting anticipated demand for seedlings.

Options for Allocating Afforestation Stock in Ontario with Anticipated Climate Change

[PDF 2343KB]

Forests and forest management practices can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide trees can sequester depends on a number of factors. For example, fast-growing trees sequester more carbon in the short-term but not necessarily over longer timeframes. Block plantings may sequester more carbon dioxide than scattered plantings.

Another important consideration is the degree to which the planting site is adapted to the tree seedlings that are being planted. Trees planted today could experience important changes in climate during the next 50 to 100 years, and this presents a challenge when trying to match seedlings to suitable planting sites.

This report assesses seedling allocation for tree planting programs in Ontario in light of expected impacts of climate change on forests. The report also reviews studies from other jurisdictions and gaps in current knowledge that will need to be filled to carry out successful tree planting programs in Ontario.

Greenhouse Gas Reductions and Credits Through Biodiversity Conservation Projects: State of Science for Estimating, Measuring and Auditing Carbon Reserves

[PDF 607KB]

Consistent techniques for measurement, monitoring and verification of carbon stocks are being developed. Ontario may adopt any method as long as it allows emission reduction or sequestration credits to be generated in a credible, viable and transparent manner. The measurement, monitoring and verification method adopted must also stand up to international scrutiny.

This report summarizes the basic principles of estimation, the different approaches used, and some issues that still need to be resolved.