B.C. must move faster on climate change: report

Further adaptation planning should involve more Indigenous-led solutions

Climate-crisis related disasters and food security issues are expected to continue in B.C., and in order to adapt, the province should include more Indigenous-led action, says a new federal report.

The British Columbia chapter of the Canada in a Changing Climate: Regional Perspectives Report, published Wednesday, looks at climate adaptation and the gaps that exist in preparing for more climate-related disasters.

In B.C., climate-change impacts are already affecting the agricultural sector, from flooding, heat and drought and wildfires, the report says. Impacts have occurred across the food system, creating production and distribution challenges and soaring costs for consumers. And, the report says, longterm projections show that these trends are expected to continue.

Craig Brown, one of the lead authors on the report and the climate change and health lead at Vancouver Coastal Health, said B.C. is making efforts to keep up with the rapidly evolving challenges of climate change, but more needs to be done.

“There's a certain amount of adaptation that's underway. But we know that much more investment and action is needed to meet the extent of those future risks,” he said.

“I think what we can safely say is that, from the knowledge that we have at our disposal, the costs are going to be immense. And the level of resources being dedicated towards them at the time of publication does not appear to be sufficient.”

Climate-related disasters in the province have accelerated the need for adaptation and emergency management. However, gaps in planning, implementation and evaluation still exist, the report notes.

So, for example, B.C. is looking at crops that may adapt in more northern regions as the climate warms, such as cherries. Brown said more of this type of assessment needs to be done to figure what B.C. farmers should be planting in different regions given the risks of flooding, wildfires and drought.

Critical to the development of these plans are Indigenous knowledge systems that date back thousands of years, yet have been “under-represented in climate-change initiatives to date” in B.C., the report notes. This limited inclusion has been acknowledged by B.C., but “much more work is needed” to provide opportunities for Indigenous communities to contribute to planning, especially where climate change is affecting their food source, such as declining salmon stocks.

“There's a real opportunity here for even more collaboration, more figuring out of all of our roles,” said Brown.

Indigenous leadership is “essential for effective adaptation” in B.C., he said, noting that a First Nations climate strategy and action plan in B.C. was released last month, after the report was finalized.

B.C. also needs to update how it collects climate data in the province, the report says.

For example, the sparsity of monitoring stations in the northern regions and at high elevations can make planning more challenging. There are also gaps relating to groundwater monitoring in the province and many communities still do not have up-to-date flood maps.

The chapter also highlights the need for more nature-based solutions to adaptation such as using natural features like marshes, beach restoration and woodlands to capture carbon and protect against sea level rise, rather than just building bigger seawalls, said Brown.

While the report doesn't provide cost estimates on what is needed to deal with B.C.'s risks, it does conclude that significantly more resources will be needed for adaptation.

B.C. has been working with the federal government on the development of a national adaptation strategy, to ensure communities are prepared for the impacts of climate change.

The strategy is open for public consultation at letstalkadaptation. ca until July 15.