Record-breaking temperatures, severe flooding and deadly wildfires are making headlines across Canada and around the world this summer. Beyond the headlines is a shifting climate that is forcing property owners, businesses and communities to reevaluate how we live and work.
Every year, the University of Waterloo's Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation is featured more than 200 times in the media providing analysis and recommendations related to mitigating flood, wildfire and extreme heat.
The Centre is now into its second decade of providing original data-driven research to inform policymakers and the public about steps they can take to reduce risk at the level of the home and the level of the community. The Centre's research, and the importance of it, continues to gain traction.
Dr. Blair Fletmate, a professor in the Faculty of Environment and head of the Centre, credits the Centre's success to their approach that hinges on taking a positive outlook and operationalizing their findings in a way that everyone can understand. Feltmate says that every time a municipality or individual implements one of their recommendations and reduces their risk of damage due to extreme weather, the Centre is fulfilling its purpose.
"In a time when many people are feeling frightened about the future, the Intact Centre is providing more than a glimmer of hope," Feltmate says. "We have been fortunate to develop a strong and extensive network of business, political and community leaders across the country that share a desire to support adaptation and resiliency through challenging times."
Annually, the Centre's researchers collaborate with all levels of government, the insurance industry, and other stakeholders from across their network to publish numerous reports on flood risk mitigation, wildfire, heat and retaining natural infrastructure. While the reports are typically between 30 to 60 pages filled with data and analysis, the researchers have emphasized the need for executive summaries in plain language and the use of infographics.
"We quickly recognized when we started that if our work was to be used to make a genuine difference, we needed to meet our various target groups where they are," says Anabela Bonada, managing director of climate science at the Intact Centre. "This approach has led to increased access to federal ministers, deputy ministers, mayors, councils and corporate leaders."
As Feltmate points out, "Knowing the solution is one thing. Operationalizing the solution is a whole other game altogether."
That's why the plain language summaries and in particular the infographic lists have been vital to taking ideas and turning them into action.
Their recent From Risk To Readiness: Enhancing Alberta's Wildfire Preparedness Through The FireSmart Scorecard is an example of this approach in action. The report and the scorecard are intended to help municipalities identify strengths, gaps and take action to reduce wildfire risk.
Other examples include:
- Canada's first Municipal Flood Risk Check-Up: a self-assessment tool designed to help Canadian municipalities evaluate their exposure to flood hazards such as heavy rainfall, river, and coastal flooding and identify actions to reduce flood risk.
- Climate Risk Matrices (CRM): an innovative framework to integrate climate change and extreme weather considerations into institutional investment decisions.Feltmate says they are proud of their published work, but it is their contributions to on the ground action that means the most
Feltmate says they are proud of their published work, but it is their contributions to on the ground action that means the most. "We've got scores and scores of communities across the country distributing our infographics now in some combination of flood, wildfire and extreme heat to homeowners through multiple channels. Nearly every day, media outlets are reaching out for interviews so we know our work is reaching Canadians."
"In a time when a lot of research is being cut back or eliminated, we're seeing an increase in our funding. Our proposed solutions and guidelines are reminding decision-makers and our communities that we aren't victims of circumstances, and there are things we can do to improve our condition. That might mean safeguarding your home from flooding or your neighbourhood from wildfires by taking informed actions."
There is still plenty of work to be done by individual homeowners, communities and governments to remove risk and become more resilient, but Feltmate and his colleagues at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation are confident that there is a brighter and safer future ahead.
"The best way to solve a problem is not to have a problem in the first place," Feltmate says. "But we're here now and we've got two choices. We either fight like crazy or lay down. There's a hell of a lot that can be done to reduce our climate risk in Canada."
