Ask an Expert: Climate risk and readiness

In this month’s feature, BC expert Karri Ving shares insight into how public and private water systems can prepare for climate risk and readiness.

For utilities and businesses, a focus on the climate and how private and public sectors prepare for and react to climate transition is the “new normal” that will continue to grow and evolve.

Taking a look at climate risk

Many clients tend to think of climate risk in the traditional sense: the likelihood of a hazard’s occurrence multiplied by the consequences. In this changing climate, it is important to look at risk and impact through a different lens. Clients are often good at planning for climate risks in isolation such as floods, wildfires, or extreme precipitation. However, many often overlook:

• Cascading risk: One event sets off a series of other events. Example: A flash flood causes electrical grid failure, which disrupts electricity for a pump station, which causes the pump station not to function, which then leads to increased flooding.
• Compounding risk: Scenarios that involve multiple risks at one time. Example: A wildfire during a chronic drought.

In addition, clients are now also facing business and reputational risks associated with climate transition preparedness. In a few short years, it will no longer be acceptable not to have a climate policy and committed actions. For both private and public sector clients, interested parties like ratepayers, investors, and insurers are going to review the qualitative commitment that each organization is making on climate and investigate how commitments translate into progress. Credit worthiness, insurance premiums, and risk profiles will also be tied to climate-related disclosures, risks, opportunities, management processes, targets, and goals.

Assessing climate readiness

It may feel like a daunting task to begin to approach your organization’s climate readiness. Before diving into complex models and commitments, you can begin by developing scenario planning and looking at your level of service, then ask these questions:

• Given the information you have about climate transition in your geography, what is your confidence level around being able to continue to deliver, perform, and/or operate at current levels through a climate transition, whether it is chronic (a longer-term condition or trend such as a drought) or acute (an extreme weather event such as a hurricane)?
• Was your response to a recent nature-based event or catastrophe sufficient? What steps can you take to address vulnerabilities?
• How are you working outside of your bubble to understand and manage risk more effectively? For instance, researching available national and local risk mapping related to flooding, drought, heat island effect, and disproportionate impacts of climate change to your most vulnerable communities.

Adapting to change

As Heraclitus said, change is the only constant in life. This is especially true as you navigate climate risk and readiness. Assessments used today may not work as sea levels rise, temperatures increase, or storms become more intense. Reporting requirements will continue to evolve. Levels of service expectations and supply chain resiliency may change as well. Whether you operate in the private or public sector, the ability to pivot and adjust will be key.