Abstracts

Adaptation to Climate Change: What Role Will Regional Governments Play?

Rémi Haf
Agence métropolitaine de transport
rhaf@amt.qc.ca

One of the fundamental issues for Canada's future is climate change impacts and adaptation in urban areas in which the majority of the population and major economic activities are concentrated. The vulnerabilities and potential risks posed by climate change will have to be evaluated and taken into account in regional planning and decision-making. Until now, too few regional and metropolitan authorities have incorporated the issues of climate change impacts and adaptation into their planning activities, whether in terms of economics, transportation or development. However, this dimension appears to be a key element in maintaining the long-term competitiveness of Canada's metropolitan areas. In addition to presenting plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, local and regional authorities should also be developing preventative measures to predict the effects that climate change will have on large urban areas and to improve the adaptive capacity of those areas. In sum, climate change will give rise to important choices to be made with regard to regional governance, since priorities for land use, transportation or economic development should no longer be contemplated from the perspective of potential reductions in greenhouse gases alone, but also for their potential for adaptation to climate change. This raises the question of the capacity of regional stakeholders to negotiate in this new, uncertain context, and to innovate by choosing actions that will ensure sustainable regional development.

2005-04-05