The B.C. government is funding nine community risk-reduction and climate-adaptation projects to improve resiliency and safety.
Approximately $2.3 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) has been committed to local governments and First Nations projects throughout B.C. under the Climate Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation stream.
The funds will help communities reduce risks from climate-related emergencies, such as floods and extreme heat. It also supports the province’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, which outlines a broad range of actions for 2022-25 to address climate impacts and build resilience throughout B.C.
“B.C. is helping prepare communities for the climate impacts that are already happening and will continue to happen,” said George Heyman, minister of Environment and Climate Action Strategy. “These critical investments in response to climate change will improve our systems, behaviour and infrastructure to better prepare and protect our communities and natural environment from harmful impacts.”
Funding may be used toward risk mapping, risk assessments and planning (such as the development of a hazard map); land-use planning; purchasing equipment (such as monitoring equipment); delivering community education; and small-scale structural projects.
Projects will include:
- designing and implementing shoreline protection measures at Spanish Banks and Vanier Park in the Vancouver region, which will increase resilience to rising sea levels, extreme weather and wave events;
- planning and designing structural flood-mitigation measures on Bessette Creek in the Village of Lumby;
- installing a cooling system at the local recreation centre in the Village of Sayward to be used during extreme heat events; and
- climate change and hazard risk assessments looking at impacts that hazard events will have on people in the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation.
“We welcome this significant investment in shoreline protection and climate-resilient infrastructure. The Fraser River flood plain is home to residential areas, businesses, industrial areas, critical habitat and infrastructure that Vancouverites rely on. This funding will help protect both our city and region from the impacts of flooding in the coming years,” said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim.
