As a city that experiences both pool party summers and winter wonderlands, Edmonton needs to be ready for the challenges of climate change.
In a proactive response, the City of Edmonton has hired Stantec Consulting Ltd. to review the climate strengths and weaknesses of all City-owned buildings. This assessment, known as a Facilities Climate Risk Assessment (FCRA), is funded in part by the Government of Alberta, through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s Climate Resilience Capacity Building Program. The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre is a partnership of Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities and the Government of Alberta.
This project seeks to identify buildings vulnerable to climate-related hazards—such as extreme heat and cold, intense rainfall and high winds—and develop recommendations to be integrated into the City’s building retrofit program.
It is an exciting step towards a more climate-resilient Edmonton and aligns with Action 5 in the City’s Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan: “The City of Edmonton conducts climate change impact assessments on existing assets, ongoing maintenance programs, planned retrofits and new infrastructure developments”.
This initiative represents a significant step in strengthening Edmonton’s infrastructure against the impacts of a changing climate. The project, expected to conclude by the end of 2023, prioritized about 150 buildings based on their conditions.
Key findings indicate that the majority of these buildings require upgrades, including roof replacements, lighting improvements, window and door enhancements and improvements in parking and pavement infrastructure.
Improved climate resilience isn’t the only goal. The assessment project is also driven by a dedication to equity and inclusivity, and will conduct a Gender-based Plus Analysis, a tool used to support the development of inclusive policies and programs. This prioritization reflects the City of Edmonton’s dedication to ensuring that climate adaptation measures address the needs of all Edmontonians.
Once the assessment is finalized, the City will use Stantec’s reports to prioritize and implement building adaptation measures. These measures will ensure the buildings maintain a high level of functionality, safety, and efficiency during climate-related challenges in the future, while supporting the City’s broader climate action objectives.
To effectively address the challenges posed by climate change, the City employs strategies that offer multiple benefits and can be implemented quickly in the near term, while also considering the long-term implications of climate change.
As the world faces the widespread impacts of climate change, Edmonton’s proactive stance on climate resilience shows what it means to be an environmental leader. This project exemplifies the City’s commitment to building a sustainable, resilient and inclusive future for Edmontonians, and is a significant step when it comes to making a Change for Climate.
Editor’s note: the pic at the top of the post shows Commonwealth Stadium, one of the City of Edmonton’s buildings.