The recent shock of the largest 7.7-magnitude earthquake in BC history and its reverberating effects on BC’s emergency management systems are signaling a need for building resilient, adaptive and prepared communities. While earthquakes are not linked to climate changes, the resulting effects of more severe and frequent storm events are an indication of the type of preparedness and resilience required to weather the storms of the future along with the impacts of increased temperatures. Within this context, the release of a provincial government report on adaptation – the need and the diverse strategies – is a relevant and timely tool for local governments to use when considering their own short and long-term resilience to projected impacts of climate change.
The report, PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: An Implementation Guide for Local Governments, in BC is broken into two parts.
The first part explains the importance of adapting to climate change and processes for building adaptive capacity and resilience.
The second part provides local governments with very practical examples of areas of adaptation intervention in land-use planning policies ranging from regional growth strategies and official community plans to zoning bylaws and density bonuses to development permit areas and cost charges.
The report notes that the objectives of adaptation are to increase overall community resiliency and, where possible, to address multiple benefits, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. For local governments, putting adaptation into practice, means enhancing the resilience of built and natural environments – managing risk, making sound capital investments, managing infrastructure costs, ensuring service continuity, advancing public health and safety, and reducing liability. Overall this report is a timely resource for local governments in their efforts to maintain and enhance the overall liveability and preparedness of their communities.