Climate Change Adaptation: Transformational Change and Challenges

Focusing on the conference theme Change and Challenge – Realizing Opportunity, Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with members of Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Platform Coastal Management Working Group, will... [ view full abstract ]

Focusing on the conference theme Change and Challenge – Realizing Opportunity, Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with members of Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Platform Coastal Management Working Group, will discuss national climate change impacts, adaptation gaps and priorities, and innovative solutions. The session will take an interactive format to facilitate discussion between the audience and presenters.

Presentations will include:

Climate Change Impacts on Great Lakes Storms and Challenges for Coastal Management
Presenter - Pete Zuzek, Zuzek Inc

Future ice and storm conditions will be estimated based on climate change projections and model output in the Great Lakes Basin. Impacts on extreme wave heights and storm surge elevations will be estimated with numerical models. The technical findings will be utilized to develop long-term resilient and adaptive coastal management plans. Plus, recommendations for regulatory updates will be provided to account for climate change uncertainty and impacts on hazard extremes.

Green Shores: building capacity and supporting nature based solutions
Presenter - DG Blair, Stewardship Centre for BC

The Stewardship Centre for BC will share lessons learned from the BC Green Shores program, which builds capacity to implement nature based solutions by providing shoreline design standards (using a credit and rating system), training, and support to communities.

Increasing Dyke Vulnerability in Atlantic Canada Provides Opportunities for Adaptation
Presenter - Danika van Proosdij, Saint Mary’s University

Understanding the impacts and spatial patterns of erosion and coastal flooding on dyke infrastructure in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, including approaches for transforming adaptation knowledge into action, and the challenges and opportunities for managed realignment.