Canada publishes first climate adaptation plan
Through this program, the Canadian government hopes to reduce the costs associated with natural disasters that are increasing in number and severity.
Hurricane Fiona is known as the costliest storm to hit the Atlantic.
AFP
The Canadian government released its first national climate change adaptation strategy on Thursday, which includes investments and new building standards to “protect communities and build a stronger economy.”
In total, 1.6 billion Canadian dollars (1.1 billion francs) will be invested over five years, mainly to help municipalities and regions fund flood-proofing public infrastructure or better inform Canadians about using new flood maps or more accurate climate data.
“Climate change affects all communities across Canada,” said Civil Defense Minister Bill Blair of Prince Edward Island, which was hit by Hurricane Fiona in late September.
15 billion damage per year by 2030
Fiona, described as the costliest storm to hit the Atlantic region (467 million francs in damage), estimates that it is only a taste of the expected costs, with damages from natural disasters expected to reach 15 billion dollars (11). billion francs per year by 2030.
“In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the frequency and severity of climate events, not just in Canada but around the world,” the minister added, citing floods, wildfires and heat waves that have hit Canada.
The federal government hopes to reduce the costs associated with natural disasters by implementing nearly 70 measures and defining “clear objectives and adaptation targets.” Every dollar invested should result in savings of up to $15, Advance Ottawa.
Specific goals
The new flood and fire protection standards alone could save up to $4.7 billion (3.3 billion francs) a year, the government says, citing the urban areas of forest created in recent years in the country’s largest city, Toronto.
According to officials who plan to create 15 new urban parks in the country by 2030, these green areas are expected to reduce air conditioning costs, improve air quality and reduce pressure on stormwater management infrastructure.
In particular, the federal government has set itself specific objectives that will be “fine-tuned as needed”. He wants to ensure that by 2025, 60% of Canadians are aware of the disaster risks their homes are exposed to, and that 30% of land and water are protected by 2030 to end biodiversity loss. By 2040, all deaths from extreme heat waves have been eliminated.
“Big Step Forward”
The strategy was hailed as a “major advance” by the NGO Greenpeace, while the Insurance Bureau of Canada, which represents various private insurers, called it “courage and ambition” that should be followed by the rest of society. The new plan, which comes on top of $8 billion already invested since 2009, is now open for comments from provinces, territories and national Indigenous organizations for three months.
The issue of societies’ adaptation to climate change was hotly debated at COP27, which concluded last week in Egypt, with a rousing speech on helping poor countries affected by climate change but failing to set new ambitions to mitigate it. Greenhouse gas emissions.
AFP
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