Adaptation and Resilience
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.
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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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| 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. Read the full climate change projections report here. Based on the climate modelling results, Durham Region is expected to see:
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Cross-Sector Resilience |
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The Region works internally across departments, with local area municipalities, conservation authorities, utilities, residents, and businesses to make positive change on climate issues. Brining a “whole of society approach” means working with many different sectors - infrastructure, buildings, natural systems, agriculture, health, and social services, and more! Example initiatives supporting community resilience and cross-sector climate action include:
Several local area municipalities have developed cross-sector Adaptation and Resilience Plans to identify local climate risks, vulnerabilities, and solutions, including: City of Pickering, Town of Ajax, Town of Whitby, and Municipality of Clarington. |
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Corporate Resilience and Asset Management |
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The Region and local area municipalities are required to develop corporate Asset Management Plans and annual reports which include reporting of risk and climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives. The Region has also has several Greening Regional Operations initiatives to reduce the environmental impact and costs associated with municipal operations while supporting key climate goals and targets.
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Flood Ready Durham |
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Durham Region launched Flood Ready Durham, an information and resource hub about flood risk and resilience in the community. Learn about your flood risk levels, different types of flooding, and other resources to help you get flood ready and know who to call if flooding occurs. Preparing for emergencies doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Order a free At The Ready guide which contains the most important things you can do to make your family ready for an emergency:
Durham conservation authorities provide flood forecasting, flood status indicators, and flood warnings to municipalities and the broader community. Watch the webinars below to learn more about making your home flood ready: |
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Addressing Urban and River Flooding |
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Local area municipalities are responsible for urban stormwater management, including stormwater infrastructure planning, assessments, maintenance and retrofit. Recent projects include:
Low impact development (LID) projects have been integrated at public facilities, within municipal rights-of-way, and at demonstration sites. Recent projects include:
Durham conservation authorities work with municipalities on watershed planning, restoration, floodplain mapping, and other projects in Durham. Recent projects include: |
| Extreme Heat and Urban Heat Islands |
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Durham’s Keeping Our Cool - Urban Heat Strategy provides an overview of urban heat island causes, impacts, high risk areas in Durham, and recommended reduction measures. According to recent climate projections, the number of extreme heat days, heat waves, and urban heat islands Durham experiences are expected to increase in the future. Visit Durham Region Health Department to learn more about health impacts of climate change, who is most at risk, and what is being done to protect residents from the impacts of climate change.
To help Durham Region residents take protective action during extreme heat events, Durham Region Health Department has implemented the Durham Region Heat Warning and Information System (HWIS). Residents and community partners can subscribe to get advance notice of extreme heat conditions. Watch the short video below to learn more: |
| Climate Change and Health |
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Climate change is causing more frequent and intense climate hazards and increases the risk of climate shocks; sudden and significant changes in weather that can have severe and unpredictable consequences to our health. It also impacts the air, food, water, homes, land, communities, and health care systems that we depend on. Visit Durham Region Health Department to learn more about health impacts of climate change, who is most at risk, and what is being done to protect residents from the impacts of climate change. |
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Building Sector |
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Sustainability and resilience measures are included in major construction and renovation projects led by the Region through a guideline called the Durham Standard. This includes a check list of required measures for asset resiliency, circular economy, water efficiency and ecology. Town of Ajax, City of Pickering, Town of Whitby, and Municipality of Clarington have Green Development Standards approved or under development that promote cool roofs, natural heritage and urban forest, stormwater management, renewables, and greenspace protection. |
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Roads |
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Durham is working to improve road performance and resilience to extreme heat and rain events and protect from washouts at stream crossings. Durham has worked with conservation authorities to develop Flood Vulnerable Road and Crossing Hydraulic Capacity Assessments to inform asset management, disaster route planning, and prioritizing future investments. Measures such as heat resilient asphalt and special road embankment strategies are also included in projects where appropriate. |
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Natural Environment and Tree Planting |
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Durham is working with conservation authorities and local area municipalities to enhance natural capital, build climate resilience in the natural environment, and enhance the urban forest.
Durham worked with TRCA to develop a Natural System Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment to inform Durham Region’s Natural Heritage System (NHS) science, policy, and planning. Recent watershed planning for the TRCA Carruthers Creek Watershed Planincorporates climate change into the process. Several ecosystem services tools have been developed including:
Durham and the conservation authorities launched Durham TREES, a subsidized rural tree-planting program.
The Region and local area municipalities have partnered with LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) on a subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program for homes, multi-unit building and commercial property owners in participating municipalities. To participate, visit the LEAF website or call 1-888-453-6504. |
| Food Security |
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Climate change impacts on our food systems are already being felt. Adapting to these changes and reducing food insecurity is necessary to build community resilience and food security.
Inspiring Next Steps - A Summary of Durham Region’s Food Security Task Force summarizes key impacts on residents’ food access, results of several food security initiatives, and key recommendations for food security in Durham Region.
The Durham Food Policy Council published it’s first Durham Food System Report Card 2024, evaluating local food system indicators including food access, production, farmland protection, waste, education and literacy, Indigenous food sovereignty, cultural connections to food, and farmers and food system worker welfare.
These initiatives support the objectives of the citizen-led Durham Food Charter developed in 2009. |
| 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. |
| Reports and Webinars |
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Canada in a Changing Climate Synthesis Report Canada's National Adaptation Strategy Ontario Provincial Climate Change Impact Assessment Financial Accountability Office of Ontario Costs of Climate Change on Public Infrastructure
Durham Climate Community Adaptation Plan Practitioner Webinar Series (2021):
Archived Climate Change Projection Reports |
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