Just a couple weeks after the federally imposed carbon tax was implemented. the provincial government released it’s first report, measuring the effectiveness of their own climate change strategy.

The climate resilience report measures how the province is increasing resilience to climate change and covers five key areas: natural systems, physical infrastructure, economic stability, community preparedness and human well-being.

This first report looks to identify targets, baselines, historical trends and the current status for 25 measures of resilience, which are then classified in one of three ways:
• good – showing a desired trend
• fair – maintaining or mixed trend
• poor – undesirable trend

Of the 25 measures, 15 were classified as good, including many listed under natural systems and economic stability:
• Saskatchewan continues to sequester significant amounts or soil organic matter, which indicates soil productivity and carbon sequestered in provincial soil.
• Increasing number of culverts on the national highway system to meet a new provincial flood standard.
• Reduction in the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of gross domestic product, indicating industries are becoming more environmentally efficient and cost effective.

Seven measures were classified as fair, indicating opportunities for enhancements, including:
• Continue to increase the amount of renewable energy, with the goal of up to 50 per cent of provincial electricity generation capacity from renewables by 2030
• Increase number of communities with active surveillance for mosquito and tick-borne disease, both of which indicate changing climate and conditions

Dustin Duncan, Environment Minister stated that resilience to a changing climate is just as important as reducing provincial emissions, of which, the 25 measures the province has outlined, will help communities adapt to the, “inevitable stresses of climate change and extreme weather”.

Some measures, such as floodplain mapping for at-risk communities, were not given a classification as baselines were still being determined.

The Climate Resilience Measurement Framework is in conjunction with Saskatchewan’s Prairie Resilience climate change strategy.