Adapting to Climate Change in the Columbia Basin. Presented by Kindy Gosal at the "Perth II: Global Change and the World's Mountains" conference in Perth, Scotland in September 2010.
9. Communities Adapting to Climate Change Initiative
Goal:
• Support communities to
increase their resiliency
related to climate
change impacts at a
local level.
10. Approach to adaptation
Steps in Adaptation
Dialogue and Good Communication
Vulnerability Assessment
Develop Adaptation Strategy
Implement Actions
11. 2006 to present
2006
• CBT research with PCIC background paper
• Outreach via climate change science roadshow
2007
• Initiative launched on climate change adaptation
• 1st regional workshop for local government on adaptation
2008-2009
• Kimberley and Elkford local projects
• 5 additional governments observe and learn via network
• 2nd regional workshop for local government on adaptation
2009-2010
• Rossland, Castlegar and Kaslo/Area D local projects
• 15 local governments + 3 regional districts observing, learning, taking
interest via network
12. Essence of the Work
• Engaging communities to
incorporate impacts and adaptation
thinking into their work
• Bridging the gap between climate
science and local communities
• Translating science into realities on
the ground
• Understanding risks and
opportunities
• Action planning
13. The structure of concentric circles
Learning
Network
Community Projects
Technical support
Advisory Committee
14. CACCI Structure unpacked
• Community projects at the center
• Adaptation planning process in communities
• Technical support
• Direct to projects and CBT
• Learning Network
• Community project reps, other interested local governments,
technical support members
• Advisory committee
• High level strategic advice to initiative/CBT
• CBT
• Coordination, project support, funding, partnerships
15. The local government partnership
CBT provides:
• Funding $30,000
• Technical support
• Coordination support
Local government provides:
• Commitment to the process
• Resources
• Staff time
• Steering committee
16. Partnerships = success
• Partnerships
help bridge high
level climate
science to the
local,
community
level.
17. 6 step planning process
1. Get Started
2. Learn About Climate Change
3. Identify Priorities in Your
Community
4. Assess Vulnerability, Risk &
Opportunities
5. Develop Adaptation Strategies
and Actions
6. Implementation & Monitoring of
Plan
18. #1 Get Started
Each community commits to
the process including initial
steps to:
• Establish a local
coordinator
• Establish a local steering
committee
• Develop a workplan
19. #2 Learn about Climate Change
Working with communities means bringing the climate science
down to the community level and grounding it in local
observations.
20. #3 Identify priorities in your community
Public outreach and events help identify the priorities in the
community. Community impact mapping and voting are
techniques that are used at the community level to help identify
priorities for further investigation.
21. Kimberley’s Adaptation Project (2008-2009)
Kimberley identified three priority climate impact issue areas:
1. Water and forests (natural environment)
2. Municipal infrastructure (built environment)
3. Tourism (socio-economic environment)
The adaptation plan has 100+ recommendations,
from simple, “no-regrets” measures, to more complex investigations.
22. District of Elkford’s Adaptation Project (2008-9)
Three impact areas were identified.
Actions drafted into new OCP (May 2010)
1. Wildfire
2. Flooding
3. Water supply
23. #4 Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Process Step Summary Purpose
Description
Vulnerability Identifying the Figure out which risks can be
assessment “weak” spots adapted to more easily, and which
will require substantial resources or
other changes.
Risk assessment What to pay Figure out the biggest risks
attention to first requiring action
24. #5 Developing adaptation strategies and actions
In many instances the adaptation action plan will inform
the official community planning document or other planning
documents in the community.
Elkford’s example of an action strategy to address water
supply is below.
Goal: Objective: High urgency strategy
recommendation:
Understand
and Encourage water Adapt municipal building bylaw to
conservation and require
manage water
demand reduction low-flow plumbing fixtures for all new
supply
buildings
Update subdivision servicing bylaws:
Implement low impact development
standards for new developments
25. Learning and sharing within the Basin
• The Learning Network is made up of local governments in the
Columbia Basin, CBT Technical Support Team and Advisory
Committee.
• CBT supports LN members to learn, share and act.
• 18 communities & 3 Regional Districts are participating
Adaptation Initiative
26. Learning, sharing and documenting the process
for the Basin and beyond
The Online Adaptation
Resource Kit is based
on the experience of
Phase One and
creates a road map for
other communities.
• Videos
• Key resources
• Comments &
feedback on
process
27. Lessons from the Communities
• Review the data, understand the science
• Ensure both staff and council are involved at
all stages of the project
• Look for synergies with your planning
processes
• Communications is important – media,
workshops
• Be flexible
• Commit to implementation of the adaptation
plan
• Start today!
28. 6 months into current community projects
Communities and their priorities for investigation (2009-2010)
Rossland Infrastructure
Socio-economic Water availability
approach Food security and agriculture
Energy
Municipal infrastructure: stormwater system
Castlegar Food security and agriculture
Additional topics under consideration
Kaslo & Regional
Water systems
District of
Food Security and Agriculture
Central Kootenay Area D
29. Learning Network Outreach 2010
• Primer Workshops to help new communities ‘Get
Started’
– Climate Science, Impacts on the Ground, Where to Start
Planning
– Improved communication tools
• Online webinars for:
– Sharing experiences (June 22)
– Planning links (capacity building May 26)
30. Strategic Planning 2010
• Advisory Committee reflections on next steps (June)
• Monitoring and Learning with Phase 1 and Phase 2 communities
(July-August)
• Reflection and Future thinking planned for September 2010 with all
technical support, advisors, locals and resource people.
32. Actions: Water Conservation
Consumption
Per Capita Water Use in Communities in the Europe: 160 L/P/D
Columbia Basin USA & Canada: 350 L/P/D
2000
Per Capita use/day (L)
1800
1600
Columbia Basin
1400
1200 Communities 500-1800 L/P/D
1000
800
600
400
200 Cost :
Europe : $ 2.00-7.30 / m3
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Communities: $ 0.15-0.87/ m3
33. Communities Adapting to CC Initiative
Contact Information:
Web: www.cbt.org/climatechange
CBT Phone: 1 800 505 8998