Adaptation and Resilience
| Climate Change Impacts in Durham Region |
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The impacts of climate change are already being felt by communities in Durham Region. Updated climate modeling projections for Durham Region indicate that these impacts will become more intense and severe over the coming decades.
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Adaptation and Resilience
Durham’s Community Climate Adaptation Plan sets out a vision, goals and actions to help Durham Region adapt to climate change. This strategy was developed in collaboration with Durham Region, local municipalities, Conservation Authorities, energy utilities, and other local stakeholders.
| Durham’s Future Climate |
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Adaptation planning uses climate modelling to forecast our future climate. In 2019, Durham Region updated the climate modelling to project our short, medium, and long-term forecasts. Based on the climate modelling results, Durham Region is expected to see:
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| Climate Change Webinar Series |
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As outlined in Durham’s Community Climate Adaptation Plan, knowledge sharing and education on climate preparedness and adapting to our changing weather are key criteria for building greater resiliency. Durham Region offers a number of webinars for homeowners, residents, and practitioners outlining actions to take to reduce the impacts extreme and changing weather may have on your family, your home, and your property. Additional topics planned for 2021 Home-based webinar includes:
Practitioner webinars include: |
| Managing Urban Heat Islands |
| According to Statistics Canada (2016), 81 per cent of Canada’s population lives in an urban area. Urban spaces provide a rich diversity of social, recreational, and economic opportunities; however, these urban spaces are getting hotter, which can pose health risks.
Durham’s Keeping Our Cool report takes a closer look at urban heat islands in the context of risks and concerns for Durham Region. |
| Food Security |
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The changing climate in Durham Region and other areas continues to impact our food. Physical and economic challenges to accessing food, especially during and after extreme weather related events will become more common. Adaptation of our food system while reducing food insecurity is necessary to build community resilience and food security. A Summary of Durham Region’s Food Security Task Force – Inspiring Next Steps: An addendum to the Durham Community Climate Adaption Plan (DCCAP) is a summary of findings related to supporting food access during, and in recovery from weather related emergencies. It includes pathways to create a more sustainable food system for Durham Region residents. |
| Agricultural Sector Climate Adaptation Strategy |
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Durham Region is home to more than 1,300 farms, covering approximately 47 percent of the total land area. The agricultural sector is already experiencing climate impacts such as risks to some varieties of crops and yields, heat and health risks, flooding and stormwater management, invasive species and pests, and damage to infrastructure. Growing Resilience, the Durham Region Agriculture Sector Climate Adaptation Strategy, will help Durham’s agricultural community proactively adapt to climate change. The strategy identifies risks, presents programs and tools, and outlines an action plan to help Durham’s agricultural sector remain resilient. |
| Preparing for Flooding or Extreme Weather |
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Are you interested in learning how to prepare your family and home for extreme weather events? Then review the Durham Region Emergency Preparedness Guide. Be #FloodReady in Durham! Extreme weather, aging infrastructure and lack of preventative maintenance are some of the leading causes of basement flooding in Canada according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, 2017. A homeowner’s best defence against home flooding is to understand flood risks and take preventative action. Become #FloodReady with these tips:
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| Reports and Updates |
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