My heart goes out to the people of Calgary and elsewhere in
Alberta whose lives have been turned upside down by last week's
catastrophic floods, (including our friends and family members).
But my mind also goes back to Natural Resources Canada's 2007 and 2010
reports on climate change, understandably understated given the
frank hostility of their political masters. For example, here is an
excerpt from the 2010 report, highlighting climate change risks for
the Prairies:
"Regional Issues
Water shortages and increased aridity are the key climate change
concerns on the Prairies...
Climate change will also be associated with periods of too much
water. Flooding, resulting from high-intensity rainfalls
and/or rapid snow melt, is also expected to become more
common. Flood control will be a significant issue,
particularly in urban areas. Standing waters following
flood periods, in association with warmer temperatures, could
foster the spread of vector- and water-borne
