One Country Is Heating Up at Twice the Worldwide Rate

Much of the world is worried about global warming, but Canada may have cause for extra concern—especially its northernmost reaches. Per the CBC, a leaked report out of the Canadian government's environmental department indicates that since 1948, the Great White North's land temperature has, on average, heated up 1.7 degrees Celsius (that's about 3 degrees Fahrenheit), while northern Canada has seen a spike in that same time period of 2.3 degrees Celsius, or just over 4 degrees Fahrenheit. "Canada's Changing Climate" study, meanwhile, shows global temps up an average of 0.8 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit), meaning Canada's rate overall is about twice that of the average rate around the globe, while northern Canada's rate is almost three times that.

CNN lists other "key takeaways" from the report, including that rainfall has surpassed snowfall in Canada over the past 70 years, and that the country can expect an increase in flooding due to the rise in sea level, as well as prepare for less availability of fresh water during the summer months due to surface-water evaporation. The report also notes that three of the past five years in Canada have been the warmest on record, per the Globe and Mail. So what's the dominant reason for Canada's new, uncoveted status? "The human factor," per the report. "This ... drives home the fact that climate change is a dire threat now, and if we don't act to dramatically reduce carbon emissions, that threat will only worsen with time," a Penn State atmospheric science professor warns. (More Canada stories.)