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The impact of climate change on Canadian archives

Amanda Oliver (Archives and Special Collections, Western University, London, Canada)

Records Management Journal

ISSN: 0956-5698

Article publication date: 14 June 2021

Issue publication date: 7 December 2021

1622

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to identify Canadian archives that are at risk for climate change threats, to present a snapshot of current practices around disaster planning, sustainability and climate adaptation and to provide recommended next steps for records managers and archivists adapting to climate change.

Design/methodology/approach

These objectives were achieved by analyzing the geographic locations of Canadian archives in relation to projected climate data and by analyzing the results of a survey distributed to staff at Canadian archival repositories.

Findings

This study found that all Canadian archives will be impacted by projected changes in both annual mean temperatures and precipitation to the year 2080. Themes that emerged surrounding climate adaptation strategies include the investment in the design and efficiency of spaces housing records and the importance of resilient buildings, the need for increased training on climate change, engaging senior leadership and administrators on climate change and developing regional strategies. Preparing for and mitigating the impact of climate change on the facilities and holdings needs to become a priority.

Originality/value

This research underscores the importance of developing climate adaptation strategies, considering the sustainability of records management and archival professional practice, increasing the resilience of the facilities and records and strengthening the disaster planning and recovery methods.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The author would like to extend her thanks to Jean Brown, for her assistance developing my MA dissertation topic, to Liz Sutherland, for her knowledge and guidance in working with ArcGIS and geospatial data, and to Sarah Macintyre, Sarah Gibbs and Amanda Jamieson, for commenting on drafts of this study in its many iterations. I am also grateful to the two anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments that helped strengthen this paper.

Citation

Oliver, A. (2021), "The impact of climate change on Canadian archives", Records Management Journal, Vol. 31 No. 3, pp. 284-302. https://doi.org/10.1108/RMJ-10-2020-0035

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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