Adapting to climate change involves identifying and preparing for potential impacts such as increased threat of wildfires, floods or more extreme weather. By planning and adapting to the projected impacts of climate change, communities will increase their resilience and be better prepared for the future.
CBT is supporting communities in the Basin to adapt to local climate change impacts through its Communities Adapting to Climate Change Initiative (CACCI). Learn more about local climate change impacts.
Climate change adaptation is preparing for and responding to potential impacts due to climate change. Increasing resilience to climate changes will help ensure Basin communities are prepared for the future.
"Climate change adaptation involves making adjustments in our decisions, activities and thinking in response to observed and predicted changes in climate. The goal is limiting harm or reducing costs in the long term while taking advantage of new opportunities and maximizing benefits.
Successful adaptation does not mean that impacts will not occur, only that they will be less severe than would be experienced had no adaptation occurred."
Natural Resource Canada (NRCAN 2007),
Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate
Read more about the definitions of climate change.
The goal of CBT’s climate change adaptation initiative is to support communities within the Basin to increase their resiliency related to potential climate change impacts at the local level.
CBT has supported the following communities in developing adaptation plans: the District of Elkford, City of Kimberley, City of Rossland, City of Castlegar, Regional District of Central Kootenay (Area D) in partnership with the Village of Kaslo, Regional District of East Kootenay, District of Sparwood and City of Revelstoke. CBT is committed to supporting Basin communities in understanding the impacts of climate change, identifying adaptation options and plans, and taking action.
Since 2008, CBT’s climate change adaptation initiative has supported communities of the Basin to increase their resilience to climate change impacts at a community level. The initiative is spearheaded by CBT and supported by advisors from a host of academic, First Nations and government institutions, as well as community development practitioners.
Communities that participate in the initiative are supported by CACCI's 17-member technical support team, which helps build local capacity by providing specific advice and expertise. An eight-member advisory committee also provides advice to CBT on the overall strategic direction of the initiative. A Learning Network supports Basin-wide sharing and learning of local community adaptation experiences.
CBT has delivered its adaption initiative over three phases: Phase 1 (2008 to 2009) included Kimberley and the District of Elkford. Phase 2 (2009 to 2010) included Rossland, Castlegar and the Regional District of Central Kootenay (Area D) in partnership with the Village of Kaslo.
In both phases, communities undertook year-long adaptation planning processes to identify priority areas from among the risks or opportunities of climate change. Communities then developed actions and recommendations to address those areas. Each community completed its own adaptation action plan.
Phase 3 of the adaptation initiative runs from June 2011 to March 2013. The key objectives of Phase 3 are:
- to support Phase 1 and Phase 2 communities;
- to engage more Basin communities and stakeholders in climate change adaptation planning and action by initiating community projects or processes; and
- to communicate credible and current information on climate change science, impacts and adaptation to communities and Basin residents.
Phase 3 communities include the District of Sparwood, Regional District of East Kootenay, City of Revelstoke, and Village of Salmo.
Contact us if your community wants to learn more about Phase 3 of CACCI or join the Learning Network.
Join the Learning Network!
Local government staff, elected officials and others with an interest in climate adaptation are invited to join the Learning Network and attend online meetings and teleconferences with technical support team members and others. Quarterly e-letters, workshops, study tours and community presentations are offered to Learning Network members. Join now.
Contact the CACCI Team
If you have questions, want support or would like to arrange a workshop or presentation on the local impacts of climate change and how to adapt, contact CBT’s Communities Adapting to Climate Change Initiative Coordinator.
Contacts
CBT has developed an online climate change Adaptation Resource Kit based on the experiences of Basin communities and others working on adaption planning.
Contact us if your community wants to learn more about Phase 3 of CACCI or join the Learning Network.
