Ontario Construction News staff writer
St. Catharines has approved its first Climate Adaptation Plan (CAP), a document that will guide the city as it undertakes efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Council approved 28 action items ranging from the use of low-impact development to reduce stormwater runoff to increased inter-municipal cooperation in response to extreme weather. Some action items, such as investments in shoreline protection and renewal of the city’s urban tree canopy are already underway.
The document is the culmination of months of work, in cooperation with the Niagara Adapts network of local municipalities and Brock University.
“While we are working hard to prevent the worst of climate change, some of its impacts will occur here and around the globe,” said Climate Change Adaptation Coordinator Olivia Groff, calling the plan “a critical step in planning for those impacts, including worst case scenarios, to ensure our community remains healthy and safe in the face of changing weather patterns and climactic events.”
Specifically, the plan outlines six goals:
- Prepare for hotter summers
- Prepare for and respond to extreme weather events
- Develop a flood prevention strategy
- Improve stormwater management including the use of green infrastructure
- Prepare for high Lake Ontario water levels
- Re-think how the city addresses climate change
“Climate change poses an existential threat to not only our community, but every corner of the planet. As a city we are continuing to do all that we can to limit emissions and mitigate its scope, but we also have to be ready for those impacts, even a worst-case scenario. The plan ensures no matter what a changing climate throws at us the city is ready to protect its residents, property and the vital infrastructure we all rely on,” said Mayor Walter Sendzik.