Vancouver approves Climate Change Adaptation Strategy update

Vancouver City Council has approved the forward-looking recommendations made in its 2024-2025 Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (CCAS) which aims to build resilient communities and support the local economy.

The updated CCAS focuses on actions to respond to the five main climate change-related hazards affecting Vancouver: extreme heat, poor air quality (due to wildfire smoke), drought, extreme rainfall, and sea level rise.

Enhancing resilience

Building on prior successes and innovation, the 2024-25 CCAS includes more than 60 strategic actions to support people, ecosystems, and infrastructure by reducing risk and enhancing resilience to these hazards.

According to the City, the actions in CCAS benefit the health and safety of residents through enhanced green space access, more cooling spaces and better indoor air quality during heat and smoke events, along with improved infrastructure.

“Vancouver is investing in proactive adaptation measures to build a more resilient, equitable and healthy city in the face of climate change”

Proactive adaptation planning also supports economic innovation and direct and indirect savings for every dollar spent. Foundational to the CCAS, and adaption plans from other levels of government, is the recognition that climate change disproportionately impacts already vulnerable populations, and each action includes an “equity outcome” aligning with the City’s commitment to equity.

“Vancouver is investing in proactive adaptation measures to build a more resilient, equitable and healthy city in the face of climate change,” said mayor Ken Sim.

“With support from other levels of government and partners, we’re investing in actions to enhance Vancouver’s green space, expand our tree canopy, update our buildings, and implement initiatives to strengthen our infrastructure and neighbourhoods, reducing risk and enhancing our climate resilience.”