Photo Credit: Ben Nelms (CBC)
From The Narwhal, article written by Ainslie Cruickshank, December 14th, 2021:
“Climate change is upon us,” John Clague, a professor emeritus of earth sciences at Simon Fraser University and an expert on natural hazards, said in an interview.
The heat wave that helped set the stage for the devastating Lytton fire “was virtually impossible without human-caused climate change,” according to a rapid analysis by a group of scientists with the World Weather Attribution initiative.
And the recent flooding was almost certainly “at least exacerbated by a warming climate,” as well, Clague said.
Among the measures outlined in the draft [Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy], the province says it will support research organizations to expand climate data and modeling and enhance early warning capacity for floods and wildfires.
The strategy also lays out plans to help build community resilience to disasters, including a provincial floodplain mapping program to improve flood management, working with Indigenous communities to expand the use of prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risks, and working with B.C. Housing to support vulnerable populations at risk from extreme heat and wildfires. At the same time, the province says it will enhance the use of nature-based solutions for managing flooding, extreme heat and other climate risks.