Getting Ready for a Changing Climate: Supporting Councilors’ Leadership Role in Adaptation

2010

Adapting to climate change means adapting the way we do things – in all areas of our lives – to respond to the changing circumstances. Councillors (elected members) play a key role in championing adaptation and the local level. Their awareness of the risks of business as usual and their passion for community wellbeing puts them in the best position to develop public awareness of, and the political will, for taking action on adaptation. This paper identifies councillors’ leadership role in the adaptation agenda and presents five recommendations to increase councillor efficacy.

Adaptation and Risk Management

2010

Risk management approaches are increasingly being recommended for adaptation assessments at both national and local levels. The reorientation of adaptation from an assessment focused solely on anthropogenic climate change to broader issues of vulnerability/resilience, sustainable development and disaster risk, especially through a risk management framework, can draw from existing policy and management understanding in communities, professions and agencies, incorporating existing agendas, knowledge, risks, and issues they already face.

Chicago’s Guide to Completing an Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy

2009

Chicago’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Guide will help cities and counties to thoughtfully plan for long-term and sustainable energy efficiency and conservation and maximize the opportunity EECBG planning dollars (distributed by the US Dept. of Energy) represent. A strong strategy can provide not only a roadmap for reducing energy use, but also for lowering government business and resident energy costs, and promoting economic development and job creation.

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Smart Growth For Coastal & Waterfront Communities

2009

Developed in consultation with the national Smart Growth Network, the interagency guide builds on the network’s ten smart growth principles to create coastal and waterfront-specific strategies for development. The guide includes an overview of the unique development challenges and opportunities along the water and provides specific approaches to development that include a description of the issues, tools and techniques, and case studies.

Chicago Climate Action Plan

2009

This report can be thought of as an overview document to help everyone learn about Chicago’s Climate Action Plan – how it was created, why it is necessary, what are its goals. The Plan outlines 26 actions for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and nine actions to prepare for climate change. These actions call upon a range of government bodies – local, regional and national – to improve policies. The Plan also details steps for organizations of all kinds and suggests actions for every individual. It covers those issues: stormwater management, heating, cooling, air quality, green urban design, plants and trees, public engagement, businesses, and future planning.

 

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Dune Swales: North Beach Project (Racine, WI)

2009

The City of Racine created dunes and covered them with vegetation to answer many issues the area faced. Now these structures limit the beach erosion caused by rain and wind, limit the use of the beach by seagulls, and aid the infiltration of non-point source pollution.

Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change on Stormwater and Floodplain Management – A Preview of Adaptation Plans and Practices

2009

This study aims to summarize what has been done to date in adapting stormwater and floodplain management practices to prepare for the impacts of climate change, both in Canada and elsewhere. The specific focus of this review was on identifying adaptative approaches to the planning and design of stormwater management and drainage infrastructure, as well as changes in land use and floodplain management practices to account for the potential impact of climate change on drainage infrastructure and flood vulnerable areas.

Developing a Geospatial Decision Support System to Address Extreme Heat and the Urban Heat Island Effect in the Greater Toronto Area (2008)

2008

To address the growing threat of extreme heat events to the population of Toronto, Ontario, the City partnered with the Clean Air Partnership, the GTA Clean Air Council and Natural Resources Canada with the end goal of developing a GIS-based decision support tool for decisionmakers. CAP conducted a user needs study to assess current GIS capacity of end users; identify the need for GIS based decision support with regard to heat-related decisionmaking; identify the technology, policies, data and services that would be required to address extreme heat within the City; and assess the Canadian Geospatial Data Inventory (CGDI) to understand its potential use for the tool.

The case study explores the process and results of the User Needs Assessments and makes recommendations for next steps that the City can pursue to establish the GIS-based decision support tool and integrate it into health and planning decisionmaking processes.

Water Conservation Framework – Participating Cities Best Practices

2008

This document from the Cities Initiative gathers summaries of the best practices of cities participating to the Water Conservation Framework program. Participating cities that feature in this file are: St. Catharines, Toronto, Durham Region, Region of Peel, Chicago, Hamilton, Montreal, Buffalo, Beaconsfield, Rochester, Cobourg and Sault Ste. Marie. Best practices are sorted into these categories: “Public Education and Outreach”, “Rebate Programs for Water Efficient Appliances”, “Universal Metering”, “Water main Rehabilitation, Leak Detection and Repair” and “Conservation Rate Structures”.

Stormwater Management Planters – Milwaukee

2008

The City of Milwaukee has carried out 14 stormwater management planters that capture and treat water runoff of two acres of roadways. The vegetation planted in those structures tolerates salt and needs a very low maintenance.