Climate Change Adaptation 

Vulnerability and Risk:

 

Along with an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather comes the question:

What is (my community / property / business) vulnerable to, and what is the risk of it happening?

 

For Communities:

Vulnerability is a function of exposure and sensitivity to extreme events.  For communities, this in turn is dependent on geographic location, infrastructure location, topography and adaptive capacity, to name a few.

 

Risk is a function of vulnerability and probabilty of an event occurring.  Probability can be assessed through modelling and an evaluation of historic observations for the community.   The Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium offers modelling scenarios for British Columbia that can help with the assessment process. 

 

For putting the process in perspective and to delve deeper; here are two additional links dealing with Community level planning:

 

 

Preparing for Climate Change - An Implementation Guide 

 

Making Canada's Communities more Resilient to Climate Change and Extreme Weather - a summary report

 

 

 

 

The end result of an assessment will produce a risk evaluation matrix somewhat similar to the one shown below. (taken from the Implemtation Guide referenced and linked above)

 

For Property and Business owners:

It's about scale.  Many of the page links shown at left can provide ideas; along with a level of vulnerability and risk assessment if your industry is more complex.