Editing Newfoundland and Labrador (section)

===21st century===

==== Climate change ====
In the new century, the provincial government is anticipating the challenges of global warming. Locally average annual temperatures are variously estimated to be already between 0.8&nbsp;°C<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|publisher=Municipal Affairs and Environment: Climate Change Branch|url=https://www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/publications-the-way-forward-climate-change.pdf|title=The Way Forward: On Climate Change in Newfoundland and Labrador|year=2019|location=St. Johns|access-date=May 21, 2021|archive-date=June 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621175527/https://www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/publications-the-way-forward-climate-change.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and 1.5&nbsp;°C above historical norms<ref>{{cite web|title=Turn Back the Tide {{!}} Impacts of Climate Change|url=https://www.turnbackthetide.ca/about-climate-change-and-energy-efficiency/impacts-of-climate-change.shtml|access-date=May 21, 2021|website=turnbackthetide.ca|language=en|archive-date=February 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212091213/https://www.turnbackthetide.ca/about-climate-change-and-energy-efficiency/impacts-of-climate-change.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> and the frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms have doubled in comparison to the last century. As a result, the province is experiencing increased permafrost melt, flooding, and infrastructure damage, reduced sea ice, and greater risk from new invasive species and infectious diseases.<ref name=":5"/>

The government believes that in just fifty years (2000–2050), temperatures in Newfoundland will have risen by two and a half to three degrees in summer and three and a half to five degrees in winter, and that in Labrador warming will be even more severe. Under those conditions the winter season could shorten by as much as four to five weeks in some locations and that extreme storm events could result in an increase of precipitation by over 20% or more, enhancing the likelihood and magnitude of flooding. Meanwhile, sea levels are anticipated to rise by a half meter, putting coastal infrastructure at risk. Against these hazards, the government sets the province's "vast renewable [wind, sea and hydro] energy resources" with their potential to reduce carbon emissions in the province and elsewhere.<ref name=":5"/>

In April 2023, following years of delays and billions of dollars in cost overruns, a major hydro-generation project at [[Lower Churchill Project|Muskrat Falls]],<ref>{{cite news|date=September 23, 2020|title=First power flows from Muskrat Falls, in major project milestone|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/first-power-flows-muskrat-falls-1.5735500|publisher=CBC News|access-date=November 29, 2020|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202031327/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/first-power-flows-muskrat-falls-1.5735500|url-status=live}}</ref> was declared complete with the final testing of the 1,100&nbsp;km transmission link from the site in Labrador to a converter station outside St John's.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in N.L. considered commissioned: CEO {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9619115/muskrat-falls-hydroelectric-project-in-n-l-considered-commissioned-ceo/ |access-date=2023-04-16 |website=Global News |language=en-US |archive-date=April 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416103450/https://globalnews.ca/news/9619115/muskrat-falls-hydroelectric-project-in-n-l-considered-commissioned-ceo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Theoretically it could replace all the province's existing hydro-carbon sources of electricity. On the other hand, critics note that, in the decade to 2030, the government plans to double offshore oil production, significantly adding to emissions.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goudie|first=Zach|date=May 2, 2019|title=What's the plan? Explaining the N.L. climate change strategy|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/climate-change-explainer-1.5094377|url-status=live|website=CBC News|access-date=May 21, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731001356/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/climate-change-explainer-1.5094377}}</ref>

On January 17, 2020, the province experienced a large blizzard, nicknamed 'Snowmageddon', with winds up to {{cvt|134|km/h}}. The communities of St. John's, [[Mount Pearl]], [[Paradise, Newfoundland and Labrador|Paradise]], and [[Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador|Torbay]] declared a state of emergency. On January 18, 2020, Premier [[Dwight Ball]] said his request for aid from the Canadian Armed Forces was approved, and troops from the 2nd Battalion of the [[Royal Newfoundland Regiment]], [[CFB Halifax]], and [[CFB Gagetown]] would arrive in the province to assist with snow-clearing and emergency services. An avalanche hit a house in [[The Battery, St. John's|The Battery]] section of St. John's. St. John's mayor [[Danny Breen (politician)|Danny Breen]] said the storm cost the city $7 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Waterman|first=Andrew|title=Looking back at Snowmageddon in St. John's metro area |url=https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/news/looking-back-at-snowmageddon-in-st-johns-metro-area-535714/|access-date=January 17, 2022|website=saltwire.com|language=en|archive-date=January 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118182650/https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/news/looking-back-at-snowmageddon-in-st-johns-metro-area-535714/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== The COVID-19 pandemic ====
The province announced its first presumptive case of [[COVID-19 pandemic in Newfoundland and Labrador|COVID-19]] on March 14, 2020, and declared a public health emergency on March 18. Health orders, including the closure of non-essential businesses and mandatory [[self-isolation]] for all travellers entering the province (including from within Canada), were enacted over the days that followed.<ref name=":12">{{cite web|date=March 18, 2020|title=N.L. announces strict measures, including jail time, to halt the spread of COVID-19|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/n-l-announces-strict-measures-including-jail-time-to-halt-the-spread-of-covid-19-1.4858499|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407080800/https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/n-l-announces-strict-measures-including-jail-time-to-halt-the-spread-of-covid-19-1.4858499|archive-date=April 7, 2020|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=CTV News|language=en}}</ref>

The emergency and all COVID-related restrictions ended in February 2022. There had been 18,464 recorded cases of persons testing positive for the virus, including 46 deaths.<ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/|website=COVID-19|language=en-CA|access-date=January 11, 2022|archive-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327081324/https://www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19/|url-status=live}}</ref>