Blogs
Question
How prepared is Toronto for damage from climate change?
Current Situation
- The Canadian Climate Forum describes extreme weather as as severe weather, ranging from disruptive to devastating. “Extreme weather can destroy homes, crops, and infrastructure, threaten lives and cause serious social and economic disruption.”
- Extreme weather events are no longer a rare occurrence. These events now occur every six years instead of every forty years they used to.
- On average extreme heat causes 120 deaths a year.
- “Toronto has experienced an average temperature increase of 2.7 degrees since the late 1800s.” (Climate Change Adaptation and Health Inquiry Background Report)
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-81509.pdf
- In July of 2013 125 mm of rain fell in parts of Ontario within a couple of hours resulting in 940 million dollars of damage in Toronto. (Climate Change Strategy Ontario)
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-81509.pdf
- “Work completed to date, has identified that while City operations have in place numerous initiatives, policies and services that support extreme weather adaptation, there is a need for additional work to evaluate a number of corporate wide issues and, in particular issues associated with the interdependencies of critical City infrastructure and services.” (Resilient City: Preparing for Extreme Weather Events http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-64016.pdf)
- The December 2013 Ice Storm left 500, 000 Ontario residents without power, shut down transit, and caused the cancellation of countless flights; totaling in $106 million in damages.
Answer to Question- are we prepared?
- Buildings are being re-fitted to reflect green initiatives- reduce CO2 emissions by 15000 tonnes
- These updates do things such as control heat, ventilation, etc from a central location
- Redesigned lighting systems are being installed that use motion sensors to reduce energy usage
- Solar panels have been installed in community centres such as Agincourt Community centre, which heat the pool, which saves an estimated 15 040 cubic metres of natural gas
- The Toronto renewable energy office has mandated that renewable energy sources must be installed in all city buildings by 2020
- Toronto Fire services and Emergency medical services have invested in green services: Toronto fire has purchased 19 highlander hybrids, 14 Toyota Yaris’, 3 ford fusions, EMS has purchased 4 honda civic hybrids, 2 ford fusion hybrids, 16 vehicles with idle free systems, totalling to 58 vehicles
- Toronto has Increased and continues to increase the size of storm sewers and culverts to handle greater volumes of runoff.
- Toronto has started using rain barrels to reduce runoff and capture rainwater for reuse.
- Changing the slope of the land at the lot level to direct runoff away from property that can be damaged by excess surface water.
- Installing basement backflow preventers and window well guards to reduce flooding risks.
- The liberals’ green initiative had good intentions, but very little specifics
- In toronto star article “Trudeau has green light to tackle climate change: Editorial” People confirm that they are willing to pay more for gas and other utilities if it were to support green initiatives
- Canada’s current target it is cut carbon emissions 30% by 2030 from their 2005 level
- Reduction targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in toronto
- 42 million dollars was allocated to energy conservation- 20 to renewable energy projects and 22 to retrofitting city facilities
- Resilient city- Preparing for extreme weather events and Resilient City- Preparing for a changing climate are two initiatives put in place by the city council in december of 2013 and july of 2014
- Definition- “Climate change adaptation can be defined as initiatives and measures taken to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems to actual or expected climate change effects.”
- Plant trees in order to increase shade and clean the air
- Increase the size of storm sewers
- Proactively trim trees in order to prevent them from harming power lines during severe storms
- Use rain barrels to capture rainwater for additional use
- Landscaping to install drought resistant plants
- Use cooling and reflective material on roofs to reduce the urban heat island effect
Future Weather Patterns:
- Less snow and more rain in the winter
- Slightly more precipitation overall
- Extreme rainstorm events will be more extreme
- Average annual temperatures increase by 4.4^C
Our city must up the ante in the actions that it is taking to combat climate change and prepare for potential damages. As shown above, the weather patterns are constantly changing and will continue to change. We must stay ahead of it in order to be properly prepared. The following are improvements that Toronto must make in order to be fully prepared for the changing climate and minimize damage.
Upgrade damaged infrastructure (e.g. roads, bridges, etc) to ensure that flooding damage can be prevented. Often times when a road is cracked or bridge piers (columns) are compromised, floods can be that much more damaging as the water finds its way into the cracks and dissolves the already crumbling foundations. However, if the infrastructure is up to the full standards the damage can be minimized.
Provide more backwater valves and plumbing to prevent the flooding of basements.
Increasing greenery and foliage to absorb more of the water.
Building berms where possible to control floodwaters.
Improving snow plow services to be able to dispatch quicker and respond to the unpredictable weather patterns.
Continue to increase awareness about climate change and prevent the effects from persisting.
Action to Take
- Increase the number of trees that are planted each year as trees are nature’s way of cleaning the air, absorbing water and cooling us.
- Transportation counts for a large percentage of Canada’s Greenhouse gas emissions. In order to combat this, Torontonians can travel on means of transportation other than personal vehicles such as the ttc or bicycles.
- Individuals can be mindful of their ecological footprint and make choices to keep it as small as possible.
Future Weather Patterns:
- Less snow and more rain in the winter
- Slightly more precipitation overall
- Extreme rainstorm events will be more extreme
- Average annual temperatures increase by 4.4^C
Our city must up the ante in the actions that it is taking to combat climate change and prepare for potential damages. As shown above, the weather patterns are constantly changing and will continue to change. We must stay ahead of it in order to be properly prepared. The following are improvements that Toronto must make in order to be fully prepared for the changing climate and minimize damage.
- Upgrade damaged infrastructure (e.g. roads, bridges, etc) to ensure that flooding damage can be prevented. Often times when a road is cracked or bridge piers (columns) are compromised, floods can be that much more damaging as the water finds its way into the cracks and dissolves the already crumbling foundations. However, if the infrastructure is up to the full standards the damage can be minimized.
- Provide more backwater valves and plumbing to prevent the flooding of basements.
- Increasing greenery and foliage to absorb more of the water.
- Building berms where possible to control floodwaters.
- Improving snow plow services to be able to dispatch quicker and respond to the unpredictable weather patterns.
- Continue to increase awareness about climate change and prevent the effects from persisting.
- Using these tips. Individuals in Toronto can attempt to combat climate change and as a result Toronto will be less likely to face disasters such as ice storms and extreme heat waves. However, in the case that Toronto is faced with such a situation the strategies that were mentioned previously will ensure that the damage can be dealt with easily.
