Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says weather has become increasingly erratic across the globe.

Get ready for more ‘weather whiplash’

Unlike other regions, Manitoba may be able to benefit from climate change

As climate change warms the globe, Manitoba may be well poised to become an agriculture superpower because of its proven ability to adapt, says the senior climatologist with Environment Canada. “I am optimistic about the future of agriculture in the Prairies because I have always been fascinated and intrigued with the ingenuity, resourcefulness and survivability

Let science speak without bias

Let science speak without bias

Objective, rigorous science 
stands on its own merits

I think the Manitoba Co-operator is an advocate for the theory that observed warming over the past century is dangerous climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions partially resulting from agricultural use of fossil fuels and cattle ranching. I’m skeptical about the theory of anthropogenic global warming (AGW) but I nevertheless faithfully read what the


Global and regional temperature anomalies

Globally, 2015 was the warmest year, 
at 0.9 C above the 20th-century average

In my previous article, I finished by saying I would hopefully be able to continue our look back at 2015 by exploring some of the top weather stories from our part of the world. Between then and now, both NOAA and NASA released their 2015 global temperature data and I figured we should spend some

weather map of CHUs

Agro-climate data is a ‘mismatch’ with overall trends

Farmers need improved data on agro-climate to make sense of climate change, says U of M soil scientist

Numbers don’t lie but they’re presently a real puzzle when it comes to making sense of climate change and what’s happening on the farm, says a University of Manitoba professor. Despite warming trends of recent years and forecasts of a continued increase, analysis of agro-climate data shows the last spring frosts are only marginally earlier,


Business needs to communicate sustainability better

Companies that have embraced sustainable practices also tend to be better performers

Canadian businesses must learn how to better communicate their progress in sustainable development, according to Blair Feltmate, head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation in the University of Waterloo’s faculty of environment. Feltmate was in Winnipeg November 19 to deliver his keynote address, “Emerging sustainable development challenges and drivers,” at the Manitoba Environmental Industries

Wet Olympics opening ceremony were a window to France's farmer woes.

Countries must each respond to climate change

A new study shows trade may not help a warming planet fight its farming failures

Warming temperatures will take a heavy toll on agricultural productivity, according to climate scientists. How will society adjust? One possibility might be increased trade: If one country suffers a decline in, say, wheat production but can still grow as much rice as ever, then — in theory — it might grow more rice and trade


Fall field work was still underway in many areas of the province under record-high temperatures last Sunday, including along Mountain Road just east of Erickson. Projections from the new Winnipeg-based Prairie Climate Centre suggest this could be a more common mid-November sight in future.

Atlas showing future climate change under development

An online resource of maps and data will help planners adapt to climate change

Growing conditions on the Can­adian Prairies will be very different if global warming trends continue — but how different? A new series of online maps offers a glimpse of the length of season, temperature changes and rainfall farmers in the not-so-distant future could face under various scenarios. The maps are part of a ‘climate atlas’

Crops such as corn and soybeans have been steadily heading north as weather conditions become more favourable.

Climate change could increase Canadian crop production

Climate change is already affecting what crops are grown in northern regions and more changes are on the way

Climate change is altering weather, raising sea levels and shrinking the Arctic, but that might be a good thing for Canada — at least from an agricultural production standpoint. “It looks like Canada is going to be one of the winners from climate change,” said Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund, speaking to industry


Reinsurers call for action on climate change

Reinsurers call for action on climate change

Firms that manage weather risk are questioning governments’ resolve on emissions cuts

Reuters – Politicians must act to cap global warming when they meet at a United Nations summit at the end of the year as the financial and humanitarian consequences of natural catastrophes become ever clearer, reinsurers meeting at an industry conference said. The US$600-billion reinsurance industry helps insurance companies pay damage claims from hurricanes, floods

wheat field

Plants may run out of time to grow under climate change

Canada is among the few regions that could see increased production under global warming

A key potential ‘benefit’ of global warming — namely, that plants at northern latitudes will thrive in a warmer world — is challenged by a new study released by University of Hawaii’s scientists. The prevailing assumption ignores the fact that plants in the North will remain limited by solar radiation, curbing positive effects of warming