Climate change is exposing BC communities to more extreme weather events and to risks that include water shortages, flood, erosion and damage or loss of infrastructure. Today, all community leaders need access to information on regional climate change risks, vulnerabilities and options for adaptation.

Local governments have a key role to play in adaptation planning since they are responsible for a range of services. These include water supply, land use planning and floodplain development, and operation and maintenance of local flood protection infrastructure (in partnership with diking authorities). Some also undertake watershed management and water supply planning. First Nations are also decision-makers with significant influence over land and resource use decisions in their traditional territories, and those with modern treaties have wide-ranging powers. BC RAC is helping BC community leaders learn more about climate change risks, impacts and adaptation options — particularly those relating to water.

RESOURCES

BC RAC project highlights

• Preparing for Climate Change: An Implementation Guide for Local Governments in British Columbia
• City of Prince George: case study | report | video series
• District of Saanich: case study | plan
• Xat’sūll First Nation: case study
• Columbia Basin "Communities Adapting to Climate Change Initiative":
  • Castlegar: case study
  • RDCK/Kaslo: case study
  • Rossland: case study

ReTooling Resources

You can also explore a great selection of community adaptation planning resources on the ReTooling website.