Most Canadian urban planners enter the field without learning enough about climate adaptation, according to research by a University of Alberta expert who has developed a new course to help fill the knowledge gap.
"Planners in part are responsible for making our cities livable, making our cities safe," says Jeff Birchall, creator and instructor of the course, PLAN485: Climate Change Adaptation for Municipalities, as well as lead author of the study reviewing 24 accredited planning programs across Canada.
Birchall notes that planners have many tools at their disposal, such as zoning bylaws and development permits. But as the study highlights, more technical knowledge about strategies for adapting to climate change could be a missing tool in their arsenal. Only two of the programs reviewed had required courses that covered climate change adaptation, suggesting a need for more thorough education on the topic.
