Which of the following is a major environmental challenge currently facing Canada?

• A. Climate change impacts in the Arctic
• B. Urban overcrowding in small towns
• C. Solar flares affecting power grids
• D. Gold price fluctuations

Answer: (A)

Climate change impacts in the Arctic are a major environmental challenge facing Canada. The Arctic is warming much faster than the global average, causing sea ice to retreat, longer ice-free periods, and glaciers to melt. These changes disrupt wildlife habitats and threaten Indigenous communities that rely on ice for hunting and travel. Thawing permafrost damages northern infrastructure like roads, buildings, and pipelines, while shifting freshwater patterns and coastal erosion affect communities and fisheries. Because these effects touch ecosystems, economies, and ways of life across the country, this Arctic-related climate change impact stands out as a central environmental issue for Canada. Other options don’t reflect a widespread, ongoing environmental challenge in the same way.