Ask an Expert: How can we best prepare for climate change?

In this month’s feature, BC subject matter expert Dr. Tess Sprague talks about how utilities and communities can best prepare for the effects of climate change.

Question: Climate change is an important topic for us and our community. We are beginning to understand the impacts of climate risk on water and wastewater systems, but want to know how this applies to us and what is our best path forward?

Answer: Climate change is and will continue to affect our communities, resources, and utilities in many ways whether from drought to flooding to sea level rise, among other extremes. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to climate change for any given municipality, company, or community. However, there are innovative and adaptive solutions you can apply to understand climate risk, reduce negative impacts, and pursue opportunities to adapt and realize multiple benefits. Our goal is to build long-term climate resilience.

The approach starts with understanding motivations for addressing climate change risks. These depend on regional and local drivers such as the need for urban flood risk mitigation, drought management, water quality improvement, and more equitable distribution of adverse climate impacts. Approaches should also consider federal, regional, and local regulations, policies, and funding opportunities, especially grants. The scope and scale of your journey can range from small, conceptual studies aimed at identifying critical risks and system vulnerabilities, to large, complex modeling efforts and detailed designs of adaptive strategies (reducing impacts) and mitigation actions (reducing emissions).

Many communities are looking to build their climate resilience by creating climate action or adaptation plans, through drought mitigation plans, or through updating their master plans by leveraging resilient and flexible designs. Others are unsure where to start. An adaptive approach to preparing for climate change risks helps communities chart their path forward for the short and long-term.

This approach, combined with proactive, prioritized investments will pay dividends to those who have prepared and planned for impacts. According to the National Institute of Building Sciences 2017 Interim Report, every $1 invested in risk mitigation has the potential to save up to $6 in recovery. By investing in reducing these risks, we can realize long-term cost savings and reduce the operational, financial, community, and reputational risks associated with climate change.