Climate Resilience

Under climate change, BC is likely to experience more frequent intense weather events (storms, heavy precipitation, flood and drought), more days of extreme heat, and changes in natural ecological systems. FBC works to support communities as they seek to manage climate change impacts and adapt plans to improve resilience.

CoNext Climate Preparedness Hub is a free, 5-month training program designed to build climate resilience in small, rural, and remote communities in BC. This program provides Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities with the skills, tools, and support needed to develop and implement effective climate adaptation strategies.

In 2024/25, 16 communities from across BC participated in the first year of the program, with representation from First Nations, local governments, and regional districts. The second year of CoNext, kicking off in Fall 2025, will build on this success and continue to support small communities in their climate preparedness journey.

CONEXT is a three-year project supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program. Resources and lessons learned will be shared to support broader adoption of climate preparedness strategies across Canada.

The Fraser Basin Council, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada and other key collaborators, is leading the Renewable Energy Climate Adaptation Project (RECAP) to enhance the resilience of British Columbia’s renewable energy systems.

The initiative runs January 2024 to December 2026.

The low-carbon energy sector in Canada is experiencing rapid growth, driven by advancements in clean energy technologies and renewable energy sources such as solar, micro-hydro, wind and biomass. In April 2024, BC Hydro issued a Call for Power to secure new sources of renewable, zero-emission electricity and to expand on-grid clean energy projects. A significant proportion of the projects are expected to be led by First Nations communities.

The expansion of renewable energy infrastructure in BC, however, coincides with escalating climate risks. Risks include rising temperatures, erratic precipitation patterns, sea-level rise and more frequent extreme weather events. The devastating wildfire season of 2023 highlighted an urgent need to bolster the resilience of the province’s energy systems against climate-driven disruptions.

RECAP will interest First Nations, local governments and those who work with them in BC to integrate climate risk into the planning of solar and biomass renewable energy projects. The project will develop a research report, cases studies, peer learning opportunities and guidance documents.

RECAP is supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program, with additional in-kind support from other project partners, including the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLI), Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR), Climate Action Secretariat, New Relationship Trust (NRT), Technical Safety BC and Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC).