Sustainability 2012, 4(9), 2176-2208; doi:10.3390/su4092176
Article

A Climate Change Adaptation Planning Process for Low-Lying, Communities Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise

Sara Barron 1 email, Glenis Canete 1 email, Jeff Carmichael 2 email, David Flanders 1,* email, Ellen Pond 3 email, Stephen Sheppard 1 email and Kristi Tatebe 1 email
1 Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning, University of British Columbia, 2321–2260 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; 2 Metro Vancouver, Burnaby, BC V5H 2C8, Canada 3 CALP Affiliate, Pembina Institute, #610-55 Water St., Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1, Canada
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 5 June 2012; in revised form: 26 July 2012 / Accepted: 21 August 2012 / Published: 11 September 2012
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptation or Extinction)
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Abstract: While the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, provides guidelines for flood risk management, it is local governments’ responsibility to delineate their own flood vulnerability, assess their risk, and integrate these with planning policies to implement adaptive action. However, barriers such as the lack of locally specific data and public perceptions about adaptation options mean that local governments must address the need for adaptation planning within a context of scientific uncertainty, while building public support for difficult choices on flood-related climate policy and action. This research demonstrates a process to model, visualize and evaluate potential flood impacts and adaptation options for the community of Delta, in Metro Vancouver, across economic, social and environmental perspectives. Visualizations in 2D and 3D, based on hydrological modeling of breach events for existing dike infrastructure, future sea level rise and storm surges, are generated collaboratively, together with future adaptation scenarios assessed against quantitative and qualitative indicators. This ‘visioning package’ is being used with staff and a citizens’ Working Group to assess the performance, policy implications and social acceptability of the adaptation strategies. Recommendations based on the experience of the initiative are provided that can facilitate sustainable future adaptation actions and decision-making in Delta and other jurisdictions.
Keywords: adaptation; climate change; vulnerability; flooding; inundation; planning process; participatory planning; resilience; sea level rise; visualization; integrated assessment

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Barron, S.; Canete, G.; Carmichael, J.; Flanders, D.; Pond, E.; Sheppard, S.; Tatebe, K. A Climate Change Adaptation Planning Process for Low-Lying, Communities Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise. Sustainability 2012, 4, 2176-2208.

AMA Style

Barron S, Canete G, Carmichael J, Flanders D, Pond E, Sheppard S, Tatebe K. A Climate Change Adaptation Planning Process for Low-Lying, Communities Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise. Sustainability. 2012; 4(9):2176-2208.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barron, Sara; Canete, Glenis; Carmichael, Jeff; Flanders, David; Pond, Ellen; Sheppard, Stephen; Tatebe, Kristi. 2012. "A Climate Change Adaptation Planning Process for Low-Lying, Communities Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise." Sustainability 4, no. 9: 2176-2208.

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