Adapting to Climate Change: An Introduction for Canadian Municipalities

4. Moving Forward With Planned Adaptation

It is important for all orders of government to address their preparedness for anticipated climate change impacts by assessing the vulnerability of the infrastructures for which they are responsible. A proactive approach that accounts for climate change impacts in policy and program development, and in planning processes, may avoid the significantly higher costs associated with reactive measures. A proactive approach also enables effective adaptation strategies through no- or low-regrets options.

Adaptation to climate change is essential for municipal governments to protect the well-being of citizens and to manage public resources effectively. Successful adaptation measures require planning and appropriately resourced strategies. Often, the expertise exists within municipalities to assess its vulnerability to climate change. Furthermore, existing programs and policies can be used to address climate change issues.

Whether a municipality is just starting to think about adaptation, ready to take the next step and carry out a vulnerability assessment, or preparing to plan and implement a comprehensive climate change adaptation strategy, there are information resources to help. As a start, Appendix B includes a selection of Web sites and resources on climate change impacts and adaptation, ranging from material created for a general audience to resources intended for the scientific community. General information is readily accessible, and regionally specific resources are constantly evolving as more information becomes available.

For more information on vulnerability assessments or other steps to integrate climate change considerations into municipal decision-making, contact the nearest regional office of the Canadian Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research Network (C-CIARN). The regional offices are listed on C-CIARN's Web site at www.c-ciarn.ca.

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