Helping communities weather the storm Shawna Peddle Adaptation Canada 2016 April 13, 2016
FLOOD HAPPENS Our climate is changing Increasing precipitation, snow and ice melt Our communities are changing Population growth/urbanization Increased development in less optimal locations 1.8 million Canadian households are at VERY HIGH RISK for flood. Across Canada, damage from extreme weather has cost taxpayers and insurers almost $10 billion since 1998. Over the next 5 years, flood losses could total $12.15 billion (with federal assistance to flood victims reaching $3.4 billion).
TOP 5 MOST COSTLY FLOODS (2000 2015) 1. Southern Alberta 2013 - $5 billion 2. Manitoba 2011 - $1 billion Manitoba 2009 - $1 billion 3. Southern Ontario 2013 - $940 million 4. Southern Ontario 2005 - $587 million 5 1 2 5. Edmonton 2004 - $303 million 3,4 The Weather Network
FLOOD LOSS BY THE NUMBERS Source: IBC Source: PBO
WHERE ARE MUNICIPALITIES TODAY? Limited funding and resources: Climate Action Plans Adaptation Plans Emergency Preparedness Plans Infrastructure upgrades and maintenance Limited exposure to best practices and adaptation that actually works in Canada. Flood response is reactionary, rather than proactive.
BUDGET 2016 FOCUS ON ADAPTATION A changing climate is hard on communities. From floodways to power grids, investments are needed to make sure Canada s communities remain safe and resilient places to live. Phase 1 Direction 2016-17 (millions) Building Capacity in Municipalities to Address Climate Change 2017-18 (millions) Total (millions) $75 $75 Funding Innovative Green Municipal Projects $125 $125 $250 Developing Community Capacity for Asset Management Best Practices $50 $50 Adaptation of Climate Resilient Infrastructure $24 $70 $94 Adapting to Climate Change Impacts $25 $37 $62 TOTAL $299 $232 $531
WHAT IS A RESILIENT COMMUNITY? Flood mitigation: Structural (physical measures, such as dikes, flow regulation, flood-proofing) Non-structural (assessment, floodplain mapping, land-use planning, policies, procedures) A resilient community uses a combination of these to learn from past disasters, minimize the impacts of flood, and recover quickly. Photo: NOAA
PARTNERS FOR ACTION (P4A) An applied research network dedicated to reducing the risk of flood damage in Canadian communities. UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO Based at UWaterloo, with founding support from the Co-operators and Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan. VP, Research Dean, Faculty of Environment P4A Advisory Committee Collaborative effort with diverse stakeholders to: Facilitate collaboration Identify innovative, practical research Share results and best practices Inform Canadians Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change Director, Partners for Action P4A Stakeholder Group Information
WHAT ARE OUR GOALS? We have the science and the tools to reduce flood risk for Canadians, now. Communities and individuals: Understand their flood risk Flood and risk mapping Risk and vulnerability assessment Infrastructure assessment Have access to tools Policies, plans, procedures Cost-benefit of action vs. inaction Lot-level personal actions Insurance Build resiliency Photo: The Associated Press
WHERE ARE WE HEADING? What are the costs and benefits of resiliency? How prepared are Canadian communities, and how can we track progress? How can we identify vulnerabilities and priorities, and share best practices? How can we consider a changing climate in risk and design? How can we get the message out to Canadians?
RESEARCH Assessing preparedness (Ontario) Municipalities (18) Conservation Authorities (15) First Nation communities (2) Monetizing adaptation (PEI and Alberta) Cost-benefit of infrastructure investment How are insurance and recovery costs divided under different scenarios Surveying the public (Atlantic) Understanding of personal flood risk Understanding of disaster relief and who pays what Willingness to pay for flood product
NETWORKING Stakeholder Group Networking events Conferences, Workshops and Webinars National Network for Municipal Flood Resiliency Fundraising/partnerships
INFORMATION
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED? Join the P4A Stakeholder Group Join the National Network on Flood Resiliency Share best practices, ask questions, give us your ideas Fund and/or participate in research
FOR MORE INFORMATION Shawna Peddle Director, Partners for Action Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo 519-888-4567, ext. 38938 226-220-4498 (mobile) shawna.peddle@uwaterloo.ca https://uwaterloo.ca/partners-for-action/