Climate is changing. How can communities and governments better prepare to face it? One answer is by working on a climate risk assessment. It helps understand what is happening (the hazards) and what can be done in the future to adapt (actions). The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) describes it as a system that identifies, assesses, acts, and communicates the risks with the best outcomes in uncertain situations (2021).
As I learn the new terminology, I analyze the 2017 version of the Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Montreal Urban Agglomeration 2015-2020. I learn about a city close to home and understand the work done in Quebec.
To summarize and analyze the work done by Montreal, I study several resources (Ouranos, Montreal Climate Plan Executive Summary, etc ). I also had great conversations with my teammates. This RRU program being a learning opportunity to lead change and help organizations consider climate information, I need to deepen my understanding of climate risks. Not perfect yet!
The method
Montreal initiated its first climate action plan with a multidisciplinary approach and an expert-led process. Employees and external experts were involved. 30 strategies, policies, and plans already published from other sources help build the plan. Meetings happen to present the vulnerability diagnoses to the administration of different units.
The 172 pages bring the reader in a flow to go through different sections such as an introduction to the city, the approach used, a description of climate science and models, then a deeper analysis of specific risk with pictures, graphics, and a one-page summary.
Part of the risk assessment is iteration. The CCME confirms that risks will evolve and change over time(2017). The repetition of the process can generate new outcomes and avoid the notion of one solution fits all. Montreal uses iteration when revisiting the 2015 plan in 2017.
Montreal’s plan aligns with the literature of the CCME’s method: the impacts serve as the foundation to build an analysis of vulnerabilities that lead to a risk assessment. The 2020-2030 report carries the same six impacts.
Figure 1
Montreal Climate Plan – Six Climate Hazards
After identifying the hazards, Montreal determines four categories: the impacts on the built environment, on the natural environment, on socio-economic issues, and municipal operations.
The collaborators (experts in their field) use a grid to note the severity of each climate hazard based on their knowledge. They provide answers only if they know about it to avoid bias. The grid goes from 0 (negligible) to 3 (major negative impact). Socioeconomic specialists use a similar grid to evaluate vulnerability. Vulnerability is the degree where climate change impacts damage a system or jurisdiction (CCME, 2017). Four categories of susceptibility arise for each impact: social, environmental, physical, and territorial.
To summarize, the Montreal plan analyzes the six hazards with a description of climate evolution, impacts, and vulnerability analysis for each of them. The presentation is easy to read and understand. However, the evaluation grid could contain more details and explanations.
The Gaps
A risk assessment is an invitation to think more than storms and heat waves (Brown & Jackson, 2022). Jackson amplifies by saying that what experts currently name hazards might evolve into slow onset events: this is not mentioned in the Montreal work and is something to consider.
Indigenous Peoples living in Montreal and their cultural aspects are not mentioned. As per the Indigenous Ally Toolkit, a crucial step to reconciliation is to employ Indigenous people in creating and owning initiatives made about them and/or for them (2019). A missed opportunity to do so.
References
Brown, C., & Jackson, E.(2022). Citing CALS 503 Guest Speaker Ewa Jackson. [Video]. https://moodle.royalroads.ca/moodle/login
Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment. (2021). Guidance on good practices in climate change risk assessment. https://ccme.ca/en/res/riskassessmentguidancesecured.pdf
Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy. (2019). Indigenous Ally Toolkit. https://segalcentre.org/common/sitemedia/201819_Shows/ENG_AllyTookit.pdf
Ville de Montreal. (2017). Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the Montreal Urban Agglomeration 2015- 2020. https://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/ENVIRO_FR/MEDIA/DOCUMENTS/2017_PAC CAM_2015-2020_REPORT.PDF
Ville de Montreal. (2020). Climate Plan 2020–2030.
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