The impact of climate change on soil C cycling was studied using a climate gradient of 4oC (mean annual temperature) which encompassed 25 study sites and two forest types (balsam fir and black spruce). Results indicated that while pools of soil C were unrelated to climate, the cycling of C through litterfall and soil heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration were strongly dependant on climate and on forest composition with balsam fir showing greater fluxes than black spruce under similar climatic conditions. Basal soil respiration, or soil respiration at a fixed temperature did not vary along the climate gradient. These results suggest that soils from cooler climate do not have a greater potential to emit more C upon warming than soils from forests of warmer climate as other studies have suggested. Variability in soil C content was related to pedological features more than to climatic variables.