Go Deep

Prince Edward Island

Water Facts

  • Over the last 50 years, coastal erosion has decreased the island land area by 2,000 hectares
  • PEI fisheries contribute over $590 million to the provincial economy
  • PEI is the most densely-populated province in Canada, and most of the island’s buildings, infrastructure, and cultural heritage sites are no more than 16 km from the coast
  • The major economic sectors in the province are fisheries and agriculture, and these face disruptions to due to climate change impacts and water security issues

Water Challenges

01.

Sea-level rise/saltwater intrusion

02.

Coastal erosion

03.

Storm surges that result in flooding

04.

Loss of biodiversity/coastal ecosystems

Spotlight

A must-read report on climate change in Prince Edward Island:

(1) A Climate Change Action Plan for Prince Edward Island. 2018-2023. (2018). Government of Prince Edward Island.

  • Focuses on adaptation, reducing or adjusting to the impacts of climate change and mitigation, reducing provincial GHG emissions and increasing carbon sequestration and storage

(2) Prince Edward Island Climate Change Adaptation Recommendations Report. (2017). University of Prince Edward Island

  • The report focuses solely on climate change adaptation, and recommends 97 adaptation actions to address climate change impacts.

Prince Edward Island Situation Report

The Situation Report provides a state-of-the-moment overview and analysis of Prince Edward Island’s water conditions, challenges, and emerging issues.

Researcher Profile

  • Dr. Adam Fenech

    Director, University of Prince Edward Island Climate Lab

    Dr. Fenech has worked extensively in the area of climate change since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change First Assessment Report in 1988. He has edited 8 books on climate change, most recently on Global Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainability in the Middle East. Dr. Fenech has worked for Harvard University researching the history of the science/policy interfaces of climate change.

Research Facilities

UPEI Climate Lab

The UPEI Climate Lab conducts research and science on climate change vulnerability, impacts and adaptation. Established in 2012, the UPEI Climate Lab is launching research programs, monitoring programs, a volunteer watch system, a climate seminar series, an annual climate science symposium, a climate student award, training sessions, an academic programme on applied climate change, and an international peer-reviewed journal.

UPEI ClimateSense – Training Climate Leaders

Authors

The content of this Go Deep page was written by:

Charmaine White

Food and Agriculture Institute, University of the Fraser Valley

Robert Newell

Royal Roads University & Food and Agriculture Institute, University of the Fraser Valley