TORONTO — Canada has some of the world’s most extensive water resources, but a new report released today warns that even a modest amount of global warming will reduce flows in the Great Lakes and the Athabasca River enough to crimp hydro-electricity production in Ontario and oil sands development in Alberta. The report, from the World Wildlife Fund Canada, reviewed the likely impacts of a 2-degree rise in average global temperatures on the two water systems, which play a critical role in the country’s economic development and environment. It says there will be less abundant water resources primarily because warming will lead to more evaporation from water bodies, changes in rainfall patterns, and alterations in glacial melting, lowering levels in streams and lakes. ‘We think of our water resources as endless, but they’re not only finite, they’re diminishing with global warming,’ said Julia Langer, a spokeswoman for the environmental group. ‘All of the data indicates that these are diminishing water resources.’ The study predicts there will be enough water scarcity driven by the 2 degrees of global warming — expected to occur some time between 2026 and 2060 — that Canadians should begin planning now to […]