Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions (ACAS) An initiative of the Atlantic provinces and the Government of Canada

Regional Adaptation Collaborative The concept of the RAC arose from the findings of From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate ( adaptation/assessments/132) adaptation/assessments/132 The program recognized the need for a regional approach to adaptation and to build on the foundation of local knowledge and expertise in government and non-government decision- makers and practitioners across the country

Regional Adaptation Collaborative The Atlantic provinces collaborated on adaptation projects with a principal focus of impacts that occur at the interface of land and sea. The objective of the program was to provide individuals and communities with a better understanding of their vulnerabilities to the effects of extreme weather events and long-term climate change and take ownership of the risks by developing policies and plans that reduce the negative economic and social costs of climate change.

Under these Tasks/subtasks 25 projects across the Atlantic provinces 50 communities of a variety of sizes involved 100 non-profit and for profit partners $8.2 M = total budget $3.5 M = NRCan cash $2.3 M = Prov Gov’t/Partners cash $2.4 M = in-kind contributions Union Corner Provincial Park, PE Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Resources

Atlantic Canada is already affected by severe weather events Nova Scotia Meat Cove New Brunswick Southwest NB $35 Million December 2010 Flooding and Storm Surge Aug 21 and 22, 2010 Torrential Rains, Severe Flash Flooding $7 Million Prince Edward Island North and Eastern Shore Dec 26 and 27, 2004 Nor’easter - Snow, Wind and Storm Surge $9 Million Newfoundland and Labrador 200 Communities Sep 20 and 21, 2010 Hurricane Igor - Rain and Wind $165 Million

Regional Adaptation Collaborative Projects have: helped assess climate risk and vulnerability advanced adaptation decision-making through the development of regionally relevant tools, knowledge, networks and policies Coastal Risk and VulnerabilityInland Risk and Vulnerability Capacity Building with Communities/Practitioners Groundwater Risk and Vulnerability Infrastructure Risk and Vulnerability

Adaptation Project Locations New Brunswick Acadian Peninsula – Coastal Erosion, Flood Vulnerability Moncton – Inland Flooding, Storm water Management in relation to tides/sea- level Grand Falls – Slope erosion and stability Saint John – Flood Risk and Land Use in tidal environment Tantramar – Infrastructure Risk and Dyke Flood Protection Richicbucto – Modeling saltwater intrusion in municipal wells Infrastructure Risk Assessments – Port Elgin, Memramcook, Cocagne Nova Scotia Yarmouth – Coastal impacts (erosion, flood risk, infrastructure ) awareness & capacity Lunenburg - Coastal impacts (erosion, flood risk, infrastructure ) awareness & capacity Minas Basin – Coastal Impacts (dyke mgm’t, saltwater intrusion, infrastructure) awareness & capacity Oxford – Inland Flooding, Storm water Management in relation to tides/sea- level (saltwater intrusion, infrastructure) Tantramar - Infrastructure Risk and Dyke Flood Protection HRM – Coastal and Inland Impacts (Infrastructure, wave models,

Adaptation Project Locations Prince Edward Island Summerside – Coastal change and erosion rates between 1935 – present; Saltwater intrusion Stratford – Erosion, Shoreline Classification, Storm water Drainage Hillsborough River – Flood Risk Maps Community Vulnerability Assessment – Souris, Mt Stewart, Victoria, N. Rustico Entire Province – Inventory Extreme Weather Events Climate Change Scenarios Establish High Water Marks Shoreline Classification Vector Shorelines Land Use Inventory Storm Surge Hazard Mapping Updating IDF Curves Newfoundland and Labrador Community Vulnerability Assessment – Logy Bay, Ferryland, Corner Brook, Irishtown, Fortune, Indian Bay, Nain Shearstown – Comparison of mapping technology (e.g. LiDAR, satellite) West Coast – Saltwater Intrusion Flood Risk Protocols – Bay Roberts, Stephenville Crossing Flood Risk Assessment – 30+ communities All communities – Climate Forecasting Scenarios Shoreline Classification

erosion will increase with more intense and frequent storms $4 Billion worth of property at risk historical erosion rates updated future rates will likely be times coastal development policies are inadequate Coastal Land Use Risk and Vulnerability Coastal Erosion Assessment - Prince Edward Island RESULTS: Alberton, PEI

Bank failure and erosion threatens numerous properties and significant infrastructure Impacts from heavy rain events and river flooding expected to increase Risk assessment and mapping completed and recommendations made for improved stormwater management, bank stabilisation and future development planning Inland Land Use Risk and Vulnerability Grand Falls, NB Slope Stability and Erosion Assessment RESULTS:

Infrastructure Risk and Vulnerability Much critical infrastructure not built to withstand future climate conditions. Chignecto Isthmus, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surges, e.g. dykes, road and rail in Chignecto Isthmus Assessments of infrastructure vulnerability to: Sea Level Rise + 1 metre ? Storm surges + 2 metres ? Recommendations for infrastructure / transportation adaptations - design and placement. RESULTS: NEXT STEPS:

Why did we collaborate? Adaptation focus is relatively new and climate science is technical and multi-dimensional Common issues, conditions and objectives Action needed is costly, complex and long-term Involves multiple stakeholders – Outcomes are improved by involving multiple skill sets and jurisdictions – Implementation often involves multiple areas of authority – No one group has all the expertise Achieve better results than could be accomplished independently

The Future of Climate Adaptation The job hasn’t been completed There is information/tools out there There are knowledgeable people available – researchers, local/provincial government There is value in working with neighbouring communities or associations

Going Forward Data Gathering Action Policy Development Knowledge Data Gathering Hazard Mapping / Assessment Awareness Hazard Mapping / Assessment

Thank You/Merci New Brunswick (2008) Prince Edward Island (2000)Newfoundland and Labrador (2005) Nova Scotia (2003)