IPCC_Managing Risks of Extreme Events.pdf - Climate Access

Case StudiesChapter 9Some federal-level climate change adaptation programs are reactive; forexample, at the most basic level, the federal government is responsiblefor the provision of assistance after a disaster or in order to relocatestructures and communities (Henstra and McBean, 2005). Other programsare more proactive, designed to prevent disasters from occurring; forexample, climate change is currently being incorporated into the 2015version of the National Building Code (Environment Canada, 2010),which would help ensure that future infrastructure is built to a moreappropriate standard and that adaptive measures are incorporated intothe design and building of any new infrastructure. This could also helpensure that adaptation measures are implemented in a uniform wayacross the country.In addition, several federal-level departments have programs speciallydesigned to prevent damage from climate-related impacts. As part ofthe Climate Change Adaptation Program offered by the Aboriginal Affairsand Northern Development Canada, the Assisting Northerners in AssessingKey Vulnerabilities and Opportunities helps to support aboriginal andnorthern communities, organizations and territories in addressing theurgent climate-related risks (INAC, 2010). For example, the programoffers risk assessments for existing infrastructure, water quality, andmanagement programs and helps to identify new infrastructure designsto reduce risk from climate change (INAC, 2010).Similarly, the Regional Adaptation Collaborative (RAC) funding providedby Natural Resources Canada was designed to assist communities thatare adapting to climate change (NRCAN, 2011b). The Northern RACinitiatives are focused on identifying vulnerabilities in the mining sector.Permafrost thaw and snow loading are examples of factors that theprogram will examine (NRCAN, 2011b).Another adaptation initiative that has come from the federal level is thesite selection guidelines developed by the Canadian StandardsAssociation (CSA, 2010). Though voluntary, this set of guidelinesencourages engineers, land use planners, and developers to considerenvironmental factors including the rate of permafrost thaw and type ofsoil when building (CSA, 2010). Additionally, it strongly encourages theuse of projections and models in the site selection process, instead ofrelying on extrapolated weather trends (CSA, 2010).Similarly, federal-level design requirements such as the Canadianenvironmental assessment process are required to account for climatechange in the design phase of significant new projects such as tailingscontainment, water retention, pipelines, or roads (Furgal and Prowse,2008). Facilitating use of the guidelines and environmental assessmentrequirements are proactive responses that aim to prevent futurepermafrost-related damage to infrastructure.9.2.10.4.2. Provincial/territorial levelThe territorial governments are contributing to the protection ofinfrastructure in several ways, including conducting and fundingresearch to identify vulnerable areas and populations (INAC, 2010). TheYukon transportation department has undertaken several adaptationinitiatives including the design and implementation of road embankmentsto minimize melting; construction of granular blankets on ice-rich slopesto provide for stability and to prevent major slope failure; and theinstallation of culverts in thawed streambeds (Government of Yukon,2010). Ground-penetrating radar and resistivity to assess permafrostconditions underground are being used in Nunavik, Quebec (Fortier et al.,2011). To protect existing permafrost, light-colored pavement on roadwaysis being used to reflect greater amounts of sunlight and prevent heatabsorption (Walsh et al., 2009). Collaborations with federal-leveldepartments to address community infrastructure resilience are beingconducted with, for example, the Nunavut Climate Change Partnership,which involves the Government of Nunavut, Natural Resources Canada,Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and the CanadianInstitute of Planners (NRCAN, 2011c). These programs help communitiesto develop action plans that detail suitable options for addressing issuesrelated to climate change. The Yukon government is providing fundingfor municipalities to develop their own climate change adaptation plansthrough the Northern Strategy Trust Fund to the Northern ClimateExChange (Government of Yukon, 2009).About 85 flat-loop thermosyphons, a sort of ground-source heat pump,which extract heat from the ground (through convection) during thewinter and reduce thawing, have been constructed in territorial-ownedbuildings including schools and hospitals, prisons, and visitor centers inNunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon (Holubec, 2008; CSA,2010). The installation of thermosyphon technology is not, in itself, a longtermstrategy but merely prolongs the lifetime of most infrastructures(CSA, 2010). Finally, screw jack foundations, a technology that helps tostabilize vulnerable foundations and has been used to prevent damagedue to permafrost thaw and related shifting of house foundations, havebeen implemented in new buildings built by the Northwest TerritoriesHousing Corporation (Government of Northwest Territories, 2008).9.2.10.4.3. Municipal levelThe municipal level is often most involved in building adaptive capacityand implementing adaptation strategies (Black et al., 2010) becausemunicipal governments feel the effects of damaged infrastructure morekeenly than higher levels of government (Richardson, 2010).Municipalities, community groups, and businesses all over the threeterritories have contributed in many ways. Some examples include:• Urban planning and design are being used to reduce exposure towind and snowdrifts as well as minimize heat loss from buildingsin Iqaluit, NU (NRCAN, 2010).• Insulated lining was placed underneath a 100-m section of runwayto prevent damage from permafrost thaw in Yellowknife, NWT(Infrastructure Canada, 2006).• Ice-rich soil under important infrastructure has been replaced withgravel and heat-absorbing pavement in Yellowknife, NWT(Bastedo, 2007).516