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Adaptation Platform Webinar Series / Série de webinaires de la plate forme d’adaptation
Planning for Adaptation in Canada:
La planification de l'adaptation par les gouvernements locaux au Canada
Local Government Actions and Needs
besoins et actions requises
Kevin Hanna (PhD) University of British Columbia Tuesday, September 17, 2013 2:00 – 3:30 P.M EDT Hosted by the Measuring Progress on Adaptation Working Group Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Division (CCIAD)
Kevin Hanna (PhD) Université Columbie Brittanique Mardi le 17 septembre, 2013 14 H 00 à 15 H 30 (HAE) Présenté par la groupe de travail sur le mesurer le progrès de l'adaptation aux changements climatiques Division des impacts et de l’adaptation liés aux changements climatiques
Presenter / Conférencier Kevin Hanna (PhD), Associate Professor Human Geography and Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of British Columbia I.K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences Okanagan Campus
Professor Hanna leads the National Municipal Adaptation Project, which is examining Canadian local government planning and policies needs for addressing climate change adaptation.
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Thank-you/ Merci
pamela.kertland@nrcan.gc.ca
jennifer.ardiel@nrcan.gc.ca
Planning for Adaptation in Canada: Local Government Actions and Needs in Canada Kevin Hanna, Ann Dale, Pierre Filion, Chris Ling and Mark Seasons For Natural Resources Canada September 2013
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Our work • To assess the extent to which Canada's local governments are integrating adaptation themes into their planning policies and planning actions. – Challenges facing local governments when planning for the impacts of climate change – What should (can) provincial and national governments best do to support local adaptation planning? – Determine knowledge and capacity needs – Identify best practices and planning innovations (Canada and elsewhere) – Communicate knowledge to communities and broad policy audiences
Our Approach • Comparative case studies (Canada/EU) of local government adaptation planning (actions, polices, plans, implementation, issues) • A survey of Canadian local government adaptation planning activities • The NMAP survey was conducted in 2012 • Results are descriptive with comparative analyses • Discussion today draw on the survey and case studies
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NMAP Survey of Canadian Local Governments • • • •
3566 email requests were sent There were no opinion questions (20 Qs) Both official languages 3 reminders (one from NMAP and two from FCM) • 481 responses (14% rounded) • 95% confidence level, 4.16 confidence interval
Province
Response (% rounded)
British Columbia Yukon Alberta North West Territories Nunavut Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Newfoundland and Labrador
69 (14) 3 (0.6) 54 (11) 3 (0.4) 2 (0.2) 55 (11) 40 (8) 104 (22 ) 98 (21) 23 (5) 9 (2 ) 7 (1.5) 14 (3)
Response by Province and Territory
481
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Response by Population Range Population range
Respondents (% rounded)
Less than 5000 5000+ to 10,000 10,000+ to 50,000
256 (53) 73 (15) 82 (17)
50,000+ to 100,000 100,000+ to 500,000 500,000+ to 1 million 1 million+
27 (5) 28 (6) 12 (2) 3 (0.8)
All major cities responded
Has your community experienced any of the following weather or weather-related events within the last 10 years? (edited) (361 were affected by one or more, categories are edited for space)
Responses (% rounded)
Flood
186 (39)
Significant storm-water discharges
108 (23)
High rainfall causing damages
222 (46)
High snowfall causing damages or unusually high snow removal costs
137 (29)
Drought requiring significant or uncommon water restrictions
74 (15)
A forest fire (evacuations or an evacuation alert)
32 (7)
High temperatures
89 (19)
Severe cold periods
36 (8)
Unusual changes in local flora and fauna
36 (8)
Other severe weather events
61 (13)
Water, too much, too little
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With respect to climate change, are there specific weather events that your local government expects will become more frequent (or problematic) in your community over the next 10 years? Responses (% rounded) Drought
156 (48)
Higher than average rain or snowfall
200 (62)
Forest fires
57 (17)
Loss of vegetation (for example loss of trees)
47 (14)
Biodiversity change (changes to composition of vegetation and/or fauna)
61 (19)
Flooding
171 (53)
Other (text responses recorded)
55 (16)
Which of the statements below best describes your local government’s situation? (Choose only one) 238 went past this question
R (%r)
We have an adaptation plan/strategy in place.
24 (5)
We are now in the process of developing an adaptation plan/strategy.
36 (8)
We do not have an individual adaptation plan/strategy, but we have incorporated adaptation into an existing plan or plans.
36 (8)
We are now in the process of incorporating adaptation into an existing plan.
16 (3)
We are beginning to discuss adaptation, but are not at the stage of developing a plan or strategy, or incorporating adaptation into an existing plan.
98 (20)
We do not have an adaptation plan/strategy and are not considering adaptation planning at this time.
217 (45)
Other (specified)
28 (6)
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Themes from some of the survey’s questions • Discussion leadership (% of 238) – Civic staff (planning and engineering) 78% – Community organisations 44% • Responsible LG departments – Planning 16% – Disaster management 9% (Environment 8%) • What does adaptation planning in your local government include? – Risk management/risk assessment 34% – Improving existing infrastructure 32%
• External funding for adaptation related infrastructure – provincial government 33% – gas tax refund 16% – federal stimulus funding 11% • External funding for research and planning – provincial government 21% • What funding sources for adaptation planning actions are presently being used by your local government? – Local funds 49% This reflects the traditional – Provincial transfers 15% importance of provincial and local sources of – Stimulus funding 5% infrastructure support – Other federal 6%
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• What types of information has your local government sought out to help in adaptation planning? – Predictive data that indicates the types of change we are most likely facing 43% – Examples of adaptation planning in Canada 34% – Technology and Funding Options 27%
• Has your local government sought adaptation information from any of the seven sources noted below? – Environment Canada 33% – A provincial agency 32% – A university research group 24% – Natural Resources Canada 16% – Environmental group 12% – Business/industry group 7% – Private foundation 2%
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Summary • Larger and mid size cities are more likely to have advanced adaptation planning, but some small communities have well advanced plans too • The beginning of a discussion (awareness) in many smaller communities • Importance of provincial support policies • Limited role for federal level, but important as an information provider. More engagement is sought. • Predictive data is sought (what can we expect?)
Summary • Emphasis on infrastructure issues • Importance of non-government organisations such as FCM and ICLEI as partners in building capacity, providing expertise and knowledge, and providing extension services • Potential importance of university research – – – –
Planning Engineering Climate and weather science Environmental management and planning
• Survey itself has an information and awareness function
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Why do some communities plan for adaptation?
• 5 key characteristics • • • • •
Leadership (especially planners and other civic staff) Internal planning and policy capacity Knowledge and awareness of adaptation Provincial policies to encourage (require) and support (fund) Bad experiences, weather events, and making connections to a climate change future. Bad weather is an unfortunate wake-up call.
An effective federal policy framework • There is a need for information that will help communities plan by illustrating what we need to adapt to (future climate). • Effective federal funding (infrastructure) will be focused on building resilience and addressing vulnerability, but be flexible to respond to the variable needs and planning capacities of communities by size and location. • Stable and long-term infrastructure funding (transcending the political cycle) focused on strategic (and) adaptation needs. • Federal programmes integrated with (linked to) provincial policies. • The continuation of information programmes and initiatives to illustrate and promote best practices and advance awareness and action.
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www.localadaptation.ca kevin.hanna@ubc.ca Kevin Hanna, The University of British Columbia Ann Dale, Royal Roads University Pierre Filion, University of Waterloo Chris Ling, Royal Roads University Mark Seasons, University of Waterloo Research funding is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
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