Assess Risk and Prioritize Action

Once you have a better understanding of the climate change impacts in your region, a next step is to determine the local climate change impacts that are most important for your community to address. This is usually achieved through a risk or vulnerability assessment.

For this step, community stakeholders work together (sometimes with outside assistance) to identify the biggest risks for the community, what impacts are expected (or if they are already occurring) and what will
affect the community the most if action is not taken.

Community Examples

City of Prince George – Adapting to Climate Change in Prince George

2009 & 2010 – City of Prince George

Since 2007, a series of workshops, programs and studies has led to the identification of adaptation impacts, priorities and strategies for the City of Prince George, British Columbia. Adapting to Climate Change in Prince George: An Overview of Adaptation Priorities (2009) summarizes the climate change projects, impact priorities and potential adaptation actions for Prince George, and outlines 11 focus areas for adaptation planning. These adaptation areas and potential actions are considered in Prince George’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, called myPG 2010, and will be incorporated into the City’s updated Official Community Plan, to be completed in 2010-2011.

Go the case study summary to learn more.

Go to Resource: http://mypg.ca/Pages/welcome.aspx

Chicago Climate Action Plan

2008 - City of Chicago

The Chicago climate action guide provides background on climate change and explains the circumstances that brought climate change planning to the attention of Chicago’s mayor and council. Five action items are outlined for the city to address the challenge of climate change. Adaptation is one of these actions, and the others are: energy efficient buildings; clean and renewable energy sources; improved transportation options; and, reduced waste and industrial pollution.

Go to Resource: http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org/filebin/pdf/finalreport/CCAPREPORTFINALv2.pdf

Resources

Chicago Area Climate Change Quick Guide: Adapting to the Physical Impacts of Climate Change – For Municipalities and Other Organizations

2008 - J. Parzen (Editor)

Adaptation is one of five priority climate change response strategies that the City of Chicago is taking action on. The adaptation quick guide explains why the City began planning for adaptation, the methodology used to determine priorities and actions on climate change impacts. Global lessons are offered, and emphasis placed on the search for solutions that are concurrent with mitigation and that have benefits beyond adaptation (win-win scenarios) .

Go to Resource: www.chicagoclimateaction.org/filebin/pdf/Chicago_Quick_Guide_to_Climate_Change_Preparation_June_2008.pdf

Adapting to Climate Change: A Risk-Based Guide for Local Governments in British Columbia: Volume 1: The Guide

2010 - Robert A. Black, James P. Bruce and I.D. Mark Egener

Using the Canadian national standard framework for risk management, this guide is intended to assist local and regional governments (as well as health officials, emergency managers and businesses) in understanding the risks related to climate change and how to manage predicted impacts. The guide provides an overview of climate trends and projections in BC and the local government planning context. The document focuses primarily on the steps in the risk management process. Briefly summarized, the steps are: getting started; preliminary analysis; risk estimation; risk evaluation; risk controls and adaptation decisions; and implementing and monitoring. The guide stresses the importance of communication and documentation throughout all steps.

Go to Resource: http://adaptation.nrcan.gc.ca/projdb/pdf/212_e.pdf