The Province has released B.C.’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy. The strategy looks to strengthen the collective capacity to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of climate change. This includes sudden events like wildfires, floods and heatwaves as well as changes that happen more slowly like rising sea levels, receding glaciers and shifting ecosystems.
The strategy outlines a range of government actions designed to help people and communities prepare including:
- an expanded role for the BC Wildfire Service to provide enhanced wildfire prevention and preparedness;
- the development of a comprehensive provincial flood strategy and flood resilience plan to ensure communities are better protected from extreme flooding;
- an extreme heat preparedness plan to help people and communities stay safe during heat waves and extreme heat emergencies; and
- investments in nature-based solutions that will reduce the impacts of flooding and droughts by restoring healthy watersheds.
The strategy also includes investments for First Nations and local governments to increase wildfire protection through community-led FireSmart activities.
The Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy is part of the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030. The roadmap is the Province’s plan to expand and accelerate climate action by building on B.C.’s natural advantages – abundant and clean electricity, innovative technology and a highly-skilled workforce.
A webinar will be held for local governments on July 6th. Local governments can register in advance of the webinar.