IPCC 2018 Cities: Plan B for Rapid Adaptation

Kalum Galle, Senior Sustainability Specialist, will be presenting Plan B for Rapid Adaptation, GHG Reductions and Resilience for the Built Environment at this year’s Cities and Climate Change Science Conference.

Presentation Overview:

This session is developed to provide a solid regional emphasis for Plan B for rapid adaptation, GHG reductions and resilience for the built environment position paper proposed as a session. As indicated in this document developed by sixteen members and associates of iiSBE (the International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment), extreme climate driven events localized in urban population centers may trigger governments and policy makers to take action to mitigate risks associated with the impact of climate change. Though the paper elaborates on various key actions to rapidly respond to extreme climate and weather conditions, identification of regional vulnerabilities and risks are regarded as a necessary preliminary step.

Having to endure various climate driven catastrophic events over the years such as floods, droughts, forest fires and intense hail storms, cities in Alberta have begun to build climate resiliency into their future planning. With the collaboration of policy makers in local municipalities and provincial government, this oral presentation intends to dissect the actions being taken and challenges being faced by various provincial and municipal government fronts such as the introduction of new minimum energy performance requirements in building codes, implementation of carbon tax, and greater emphasis on durability and urbanization strategies designed to limit urban sprawl.

Delegates attending the session Plan B for rapid adaptation, GHG reductions and resilience for the built environment will find this oral presentation to be grounded in local context and will provide them with a sense of urgency to take action at an individual level.

Please note that conference participation is by invitation only.