Blogs
Topic: Climate change impacts on infrastructure locally.
Issue:
- London has a well documented history of the Thames flooding and damaging infrastructure dating all the way back to the 1970’s.
- The worst flood ever recorded was in 1937, where it destroyed over 1100 homes. London is now protected by a series of dykes and dams.
- Ontario is prone to climate hazards such as drought, intense rainfall, ice, windstorms and heatwaves.
- A violent rainstorm in August 2005 that washed out Finch Avenue in Toronto, broke two gas mains and a drinking waterman, took out telephone, hydro and cable lines, and flooded more than 4,200 basements at a cost of almost $550 million. Flooding in downtown Peterborough in July 2004 caused damage to homes and businesses amounting to %87 million. The same story has been told in many communities across Ontario, from Rainy River to Hamilton to Sudbury. Insurance companies have been counting the cost to these claims and the numbers are climbing.
- In its January 2011 Progress Report on Adaptation to Climate Change, the Insurance Bureau of Canada noted that losses related to water damage are costing Canadian insurers and policyholders up to $1.5 billion annually — a figure that continues to rise. These losses can be attributed to both the aging of water and wastewater infrastructure and changing weather patterns.
Goals/Solutions:
- To reduce infrastructure damage, the city of London has created divisions to better understand the risks, these divisions include, Risk Management Division, Wastewater and Drainage Engineering, Planning and Development – Building, Transportation Planning and Design, Water Operations Division, Water Engineering Division, Pollution Control Operations, Environmental Programs and Customer Relations, and Corporate Security and Emergency Management Division.
- Our government is committed to minimizing these impacts and ensuring our province, people and environment are prepared for and can cope with global climate change. To achieve this, Ontario has set a goal: reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below the 1990 levels by 2050. To help mark progress and keep on track, we set two mid-term targets: 15% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 37% below by 2030.
- As Ontario moves towards its second mid-term target of 37% below 1990 levels by 2030, and ultimately to 2050, the government will continue to lead and collaborate, in the province and globally, in the fight against climate change. By 2030, Ontario will have enhanced emissions reductions in government facilities and operations. The public sector ― including municipalities, hospitals, schools and universities ― will have started to significantly reduce their carbon emissions. Ontario will have established collaborative partnerships with First Nations, Métis, business, academic and other non-governmental partners to facilitate sharing, learning and collective action towards a low-carbon, high-productivity economy. Partnerships with other jurisdictions will help reduce emissions globally, and will boost innovation and competitiveness at home.
- In conclusion, by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, the amount of climate change and its impacts will lower, decreasing the amount of infrastructure damage from climate change.
