Most Canadian cities not ready for climate change, study finds

Chunks of ice are seen in the Grand River while flooding hits Brantford on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (Jason Gagnon / Twitter)

A study suggests most Canadian cities have yet to assess the threat posed by climate change despite being the most exposed to any weather disasters it could cause.

A survey of 63 municipalities of all sizes from coast to coast found major gaps in how most are preparing for coming conditions and in how they are reducing their contribution to the problem.

"Cities are the most vulnerable government to climate change in Canada but have the least resources in order to manage the problem, so it's imperative that they have some strategy or plan," said Jason Thistlethwaite, a University of Waterloo professor and co-author of the paper published in the journal Climatic Change.

Thistlethwaite and his colleagues measured the plans against 46 indicators that include baseline information, goals, implementation, evaluation and public participation.

"Almost all plans failed to include an assessment of the municipality's vulnerability to specific climate change impacts," the paper says.

Only seven communities had identified specific neighbourhoods that might be vulnerable. A dozen identified specific local industries at risk.

Many cities hadn't done enough research to be able to write a comprehensive plan.

Scientists are increasingly able to attribute extreme weather events to the influence of climate change. And when floods or wildfires destroy lives and property, it's usually in a city.

"Where are most of our people and property?" Thistlethwaite said. "They're in cities. There's a concentration there of exposure."

Cities are caught in a bind, he said. Not only are they already strapped for cash to fill potholes and run buses, but their main source of income can conflict with the need to plan for climate change.

"Their revenue's from property taxes, so they want to expand development. When they say they're going to restrict development in a certain area, that (creates) incredible pressure for them to ignore the advice of their staff."

The survey concluded that Kingston, Ont., has Canada's best municipal climate change plan.

It was the result of more than a year's effort and included computer modelling of what the local climate might look like in 2050. That work concluded that the number of extreme heat days is likely to increase to 30 from four and the number of extreme precipitation events to double to nine.

"That really drives home the point to some people," said Paul MacLatchy, Kingston's environment director.

"(It's) a little bit frightening. Things do change remarkably. The infrastructure we rely on every day is that much harder to keep functioning in a reliable way."

Failing to plan for climate change has real consequences, said Thistlethwaite.

"You're likely to see property taxes go up as municipalities are forced to collect more money to pay for damaged infrastructure. You're likely to see property values go down in areas where there are recurring high risks."

MacLatchy said Kingston was able to do the work with the help of a program from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Thistlethwaite said cities need more resources to plan for how they will withstand heat waves, ice storms, wildfires and floods.

"We need to see much more leadership from upper tiers of government."