1. Statistical offices and science-based climate change statistics
Carolyn Cahill, Assistant Director,
Environment Energy and Transportation Statistics
Expert Forum for Producers and Users of Climate Change-Related Statistics
September 2, 2015

2. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Presentation outline
Climate and climate change statistics
Stocks of renewable water/water yield
Fisheries and ecosystem goods
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

3. I) Climate and climate change statistics
Statistics Canada analytical articles and data tables based on data collected by Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada
Published in existing analytical publication - EnviroStats
Topics:
Glacier mass balance
Precipitation
Temperature
Snow cover
Sea ice
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4. Extent of sea ice
Source: Statistics Canada, EnviroStats 2011, vol. 5, no. 4
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5. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Role of NSO
Science departments came to StatCan in order to leverage our dissemination infrastructure
Worked collaboratively with science departments, but article was StatCan’s and only required institutional review from NSO
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

6. Relationship with science departments
Worthwhile interaction between scientists and StatCan staff – compared approaches to statistical analysis
Detailed Memorandum of Understanding described how time series would be selected collaboratively, and how articles would be developed
Unfunded activity - continuity has been difficult for all three departments
Possibility of renewing efforts through increased outreach efforts in the next year
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

7. II) Trends in renewable water
First measure of renewable water assets that can be compared over time
Uses HYDAT water flow data – long-standing Environment Canada database that covers southern Canada
Allows the examination of regional renewable water, and comparison to water use statistics
Provides insight on the impacts of climate and climate change
Initial results were experimental– new NSO investments will allow annual estimates starting in 2016
Whearas the data presented in (i) pertained directly to climate and climate change, The remainder of the presentation will focus on contextual environmental variables helping assess the impact of climate change
Water is a very important, type of natural capital I would like to discuss today. Within Statistics Canada’s program, we express water stocks in terms of renewable freshwater resources, which, is based on measurements of the unregulated flows of freshwater. This would include, for instance, water in rivers and streams, but excludes water from reservoirs.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

8. Trends in renewable water for selected British Columbia drainage regions, 1971 to 2004
These charts show the volumes of renewable water for both the Columbia and the Fraser–Lower Mainland drainage areas, from 1971 to 2004, both of which are included entirely in British Columbia. The raw data is the dotted line, the “trend cycle” is the blue line, and the linear trend is the red line. Looking at the red line, we see that the Fraser-Lower Mainland has a declining trend during the period presented, and the Columbia has a rising trend. Our examination of the largest region in our study, Southern Canada, showed an overall decline between 1971 and 2004, decreasing by an average of 3.5 cubic km per year, from 1971 to 2004.
These results are good examples of how we are using existing environmental data collected outside Statistics Canada. In this case, we are working with water-level measurements collected for many years by Environment Canada and the provinces. We use these data in a model to estimate the overall volume of renewable water in each drainage area in the study area.
At this point, you might be wondering why the last year in these charts—2004—is rather outdated. The reason is that this chart is the result of a study we completed in However, we are now making the necessary investments to provide annual updates, to be available by 2016.
raw data
trend cycle
linear trend
Source: Statistics Canada, Human Activity and the Environment, 2010
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9. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Role of NSO
StatCan initiated the work in an effort to quantify change in renewable water stocks in a statistically significant manner
Fits into statistical framework based on natural capital
Developed the methodology that uses science department’s data
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

10. Relationship with science departments
Hydrometric experts at Environment Canada peer reviewed the work – received excellent collaboration
With annual updates, another arm of Environment Canada will now be using these data as the basis for one of a national series of indicators (Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators)
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

11. III) Fisheries and ecosystem goods
Work done as part of a two-year, federal interdepartmental project on measuring ecosystem goods and services
With the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, mapped:
Canadian marine coastal fishery ecumenes using Statistics Canada data
Areas with commercial fish landings using DFO data
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

12. Beneficiaries of marine ecosystem goods
The second map turns to oceans and coasts–areas that may provide as much as two-thirds of the planet’s ecosystem services. Some beneficiaries have a direct interest in the sound management of coastal and marine ecosystem assets in that their livelihoods depend on marine harvesting and processing activities.
The maps presented here show where these beneficiaries of ecosystems are located on the both east and west coats. The colours are based on size of the labour force in that area, with the darker the colour, the larger the number of people employed in activities related to the marine environment, including commercial fishing, aquaculture and seafood processing.
On the east coast, in 2006, these activities represented 14% of employment in those communities where the activities were present, compared with 4% on the west coast. In some of the smaller communities, these activities represented a third to nearly half of the employment.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

13. Quantifying ecosystem goods
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

14. Role of NSO and relationship with science department
Work allowed science department to present its findings in a spatial and socio-economic context
Although the project is completed, an ongoing relationship with this and other science departments has continued
This relationship allows for sharing of research on EGS, and feedback on StatCan’s own efforts in this area
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

15. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Summary
NGO dissemination networks, statistical expertise can be joined with scientific expertise and data to create unique products
Broad thematic umbrellas (e.g., Ecosystem Goods and Services) can provide the basis for sustained communities of practices
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018

16. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Thank you!
Thank you!
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
10/11/2018