Climate Change 2001:
Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
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15. North America

Contents

Executive Summary

Climate Trends and Scenarios
Key Regional Concerns

Water Resources
Natural Resources
Forests
Protected Areas
Food and Fiber
Agriculture
Production Forestry
Carbon Sequestration—Adaptation Issues
Marine Fisheries
Human Health
Human Settlements and Infrastructure
Tourism
Public and Private Insurance and Disaster Relief Systems
Adaptation Potential and Vulnerability

15.1. The North American Region

15.1.1. Previous Work
15.1.2. What is Different about the North American Region?

15.1.2.1. High Level of Intensive Water Management
15.1.2.2. Urbanization
15.1.2.3. Continental Free Trade

15.1.3. Past to Present
15.1.4. Scenarios for the Future

15.2. Key Regional Characteristics

15.2.1. Water Resources

15.2.1.1. Impacts and Adaptation Options
15.2.1.2. Water Quality
15.2.1.3. Flood Risks

15.2.2. Natural Resources

15.2.2.1. Forests
15.2.2.1.1. Changes in function of existing forests
15.2.2.1.2. Wholesale changes in forest structure and function
15.2.2.1.3. Fire
15.2.2.1.4. Insects
15.2.2.1.5. Vegetation In human settlements
15.2.2.2. Protected Areas
15.2.2.2.1. Mountains
15.2.2.2.2. Wetlands
15.2.2.2.3. Coastal/Marine
15.2.2.2.4. Wildlife
15.2.3. Food and Fiber
15.2.3.1. Agriculture
15.2.3.1.1. Change in land use
15.2.3.1.2. Crop yields and adaptation
15.2.3.1.3. Response to climate variability and extreme events
15.2.3.1.4. Vulnerability of livestock
15.2.3.1.5. Role of changing water resources
15.2.3.1.6. Carbon sequestration
15.2.3.2. Production Forestry
15.2.3.3. Marine Fisheries
15.2.4. Human Health
15.2.4.1. Potential Direct Health Impacts of Climate Change
15.2.4.1.1. Health impacts of thermal extremes
15.2.4.1.2. Health impacts of extreme weather events
15.2.4.1.2.1. Convective storms
15.2.4.1.2.2. Floods
15.2.4.1.2.3. Hurricanes
15.2.4.1.2.4. Ice Storms
15.2.4.1.2.5. Tornadoes
15.2.4.2. Potential Indirect Health Impacts of Climate Change
15.2.4.2.1. Vector-borne diseases
15.2.4.2.1.1. Encephalitis
15.2.4.2.1.2. Malaria
15.2.4.2.1.3. Dengue and Yellow Fever
15.2.4.2.1.4. Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
15.2.4.2.2. Rodent-borne diseases
15.2.4.2.2.1. Hantavirus
15.2.4.2.2.2. Diseases associated with water
15.2.4.2.3. Respiratory disorders
15.2.4.2.3.1. Smog
15.2.4.2.3.2. Acidic deposition
15.2.4.2.3.3. Suspended particulates
15.2.4.2.4. Nutritional health
15.2.5. Human Settlements and Infrastructure
15.2.5.1. Demographic Pressures
15.2.5.2. Infrastructure Investments in Adaptation
15.2.5.3. Coastal Regions Particularly Vulnerable
15.2.5.4. Vulnerability to System Failure
15.2.5.5. Development and Vulnerability to Extreme Events
15.2.6. Tourism and Recreation
15.2.7 Public and Private Insurance Systems
15.2.7.1 Private-Sector Insurance Systems
15.2.7.2 Government-Based Insurance and Disaster-Relief Systems
15.2.7.3 Creating and Maintaining Adaptive Capacity
15.2.7.4 Equity and Sustainability Issues in Relation to Insurance

15.3. Adaptation Potential and Vulnerability

15.3.1. Generic Issues
15.3.2. Subregional and Extra-Regional Cases

15.3.2.1. Introduction
15.3.2.2. Pacific Subregion
15.3.2.3. Rocky Mountains-Southwest U.S. Subregion
15.3.2.4. Prairies-Great Plains Subregion
15.3.2.5. Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Subregion
15.3.2.6. North Atlantic Subregion
15.3.2.7. Southeast United States
15.3.2.8. Arctic Border
15.3.2.9. U.S.-Mexican Border
15.3.2.10. The U.S.-Caribbean Border

15.4. Synthesis

References

Stewart Cohen (Canada) and Kathleen Miller (USA)

Lead Authors:
K. Duncan (Canada), E. Gregorich (Canada), P. Groffman (USA), P. Kovacs (Canada), V. Magaña (Mexico), D. McKnight (USA), E. Mills (USA), D. Schimel (USA)

Contributing Authors:
G. Chichilnisky (USA), D. Etkin (Canada), R. Fleming (Canada), K. Hall (USA), S. Meyn (Canada), J. Patz (USA), R. Pulwarty (USA), D. Scott (Canada), G. Wall (Canada)

Review Editor:
E. Wheaton (Canada)



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