Whitehorse Climate Change Adaptation Plan - Yukon College

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Community Adaptation Project
an effective response requires the institution to provide residents with enough information
to dissuade them from taking action themselves and thus potentially complicating efforts to
lessen a particular threat. It is important to note that despite a noticeable effort by Whitehorse’s
institutional departments to improve responses to environmental stresses, there is persistence
in individual injuries and private property damage that result from a particular stress, despite a
lessening of overall impact. For example, heavy snowfalls or icy conditions tend to consistently
result in accidents and injuries despite advanced warnings about the potential hazards.
Thus, the community’s adaptive capacity is low where behavioural, rather than institutionallevel
change, is required. This will likely affect future climate change adaptations as they are
implemented. Environmental stresses such as flooding and forest fires are more easily mitigated
with institutional support, as their impacts tend to be more localized and they often require
access to specialized equipment. Educational programs and ensuring the community is aware
of the benefits associated with city programs such as FireSmart will likely be pivotal for future
adaptation programs, especially on an individual level.
While climate change may result in new environmental stresses that carry unknown risks, it will
also exacerbate known stresses and the hazards. For example, structural issues arising from
snowfall that exceeds the loading capacity of buildings may become increasingly common. Ice
on roadways may become more frequent due to unseasonable rain and changing weather, and
could be of major concern given that there are more drivers and pedestrians in Whitehorse than
ever before. Accidents due to poor driving conditions or icy walking conditions are therefore also
likely to increase. Finally, the risks associated with a potential increase in the number of forest
fires and flooding events will test both the adaptive capacity of the institution and the individual.
The environmental stresses documented in this report provide a basis for evaluating how climate
change may affect the community of Whitehorse. This report indicates which of these historic
hazards has proven problematic for residents, and which hazards continue to result in the
damage of property and the injury of residents. The impacts and responses to these stresses are
something that we should consider and evaluate for years to come. As a result, these stresses
should be considered in the development of the Community of Whitehorse Climate Change
Adaptation Plan.