The Province has released BC’s draft Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy designed to strengthen BC’s capacity to anticipate and respond to the impacts from climate change. The draft strategy highlights the Province’s current actions and outlines a suite of proposed actions for 2022-25 as well as six guiding principles. Actions fall under four key pathways that work to strengthen BC’s foundations, enhance community climate resilience, foster resilience of species and ecosystems, and advance a climate-ready economy and infrastructure.
Through the work of the UBCM Special Committee on Climate Action, UBCM has put forward several key recommendations to strengthen the resilience of communities and adapt to climate change. This includes calling for the completion of risk assessments; tools and resources to adopt risk assessments and associated long-term capital plans; and a dedicated funding stream to support the development, and implementation of local adaptation plans. UBCM met with ten ministers on the recommendations of the Special Committee, and its work is also informing the discussions of the UBCM Select Committee on Local Government Finance.
The Province is inviting feedback on the proposed actions for 2022-25 and the draft guiding principles. The comment period will be open until August 12, 2021. Input will be used to inform the next phase of the strategy, expected to be released in 2022.
Interested local governments can register to attend the following webinars that will outline the strategy:
Webinar 1: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 from 10:00 to 12:00 PM PST or
Webinar 2: Monday, July 5, 2021 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM PST
Photo Credit: District of Hudson's Hope solar installation