City seeks input on local risks for Climate Change Adaptation Plan

As part of ongoing work to develop Kingston’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan, the City has launched a survey to address local risks and identify opportunities for climate action in our community. 

Since December 2023, the City has been following ICLEI’s “Building Adaptative and Resilient Communities (BARC)” framework to guide the planning process. This methodology, which has been applied by more than 100 Canadian municipalities, includes analyzing future climate change projections, identifying key impacts and conducting vulnerability and risk assessments. 

“Shifting weather patterns, marked by more intense heatwaves, increased rainfall and a rise in extreme weather events, are already impacting our health, environment and economy,” says Julie Salter-Keane, Manager of Climate Leadership at the City of Kingston. 

“By working alongside the team at ICLEI Canada, as well as local experts and community partners, our goal is to minimize the negative impacts of climate change and identify actions we can take now to increase our resiliency for the future.” 

This survey builds off the risk assessment conducted by Kingston’s Adaptation Plan Working Group, which includes members from groups affected by climate change and who have influence over various systems in Kingston. Data collected will help the group identify the most significant impacts of climate change and consider the community’s vision for addressing these risks. 

"The impact survey is a crucial part of our planning process," said Hiba Kariem, Climate Change Project Coordinator at ICLEI Canada. "By engaging with the community, we can ensure that the Climate Change Adaptation Plan reflects real concerns and priorities. Your feedback will help us shape the actions needed to protect Kingston from the impacts of climate change." 

Residents are invited to learn more about the Climate Change Adaptation Plan and complete the survey on Get Involved Kingston before Aug. 23, 2024.