A specialist with the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation says the last couple of weeks have really been an effective demonstration of the impact of climate change.

Coastal Resources Manager Geoff Peach points to heavy rain, strong winds and extreme droughts in various locations throughout North America — as well as the flooding in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and heavy storms through the Maritimes.

Peach says there are two strategies to deal with climate change; in the long term we have to reduce our carbon footprint, but in the short term we have to learn to adapt to the changing conditions that climate change is bringing.

That means planting trees wherever possible to reduce erosion, take steps to hold water on land longer, and build wind breaks wherever possible. Peach adds we’ve seen these conditions before, but not with the same frequency or intensity.