Canada: Cities urged to plan ahead for climate change effects - Victoria already addressing issues

Planning processes will have to take climate change needs into account, according to the recently published Climate Change Adaptation Project report, writes Sandra McCulloch for the Times Colonist.

"The cost-effectiveness of spending money now to save money later is an important message for people to know about. There's no need for us to panic at all, but there's no space for us to be complacent," said City of Victoria sustainability director Roy Brooke.

The report warns of increasing rainfall, temperatures and humidity as well as sea level rise. The authors recommend cities to evaluate the capacity of their storm water runoff systems; relocate vulnerable communities; and to adapt building codes to climate change related risks.

The City of Victoria has incorporated climate change adaptation into its official community plan for the next 3 decades and it will release its Climate and Energy Resiliency Plan later this year.