It seems like a lifetime ago, but in March 2018, the City of Edmonton hosted the inaugural Cities and Climate Change Science Conference, attracting over 800 scientists, researchers and policymakers to our city.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a United Nations committee that regularly assesses the science of climate change. The IPCC had recognized that while climate science was primarily global in nature, the majority of the world’s population is urban. Therefore, cities need local data in order to support their climate action and decision-making.
The conference was a great opportunity to launch a grant to help us gain local climate data, so the City created the CitiesIPCC Legacy Research Grant. The grant would support research that aids Edmonton in its science-based climate-related decisions for both mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and helping the city adapt to a changing climate. Edmonton has been working with Alberta Ecotrust to oversee the grant program.
The 2020 grant recipients are researching tele-work policies, the urban heat island effect and the creation of neighbourhood level climate action strategies. Their research results will be available in a year or so. (Update: Check out the Change For Climate Lunchbox Series for video recordings.)
Research conducted by the 2019 grant recipients was interrupted by the onset of COVID-19, but research teams shared their findings to-date at two Ideas Talks hosted by Alberta Ecotrust in the fall of 2020. Video recordings of these presentations are now available for viewing below. (Update: Visit Alberta Ecotrust for the final reports.)
Communities and climate change
This recording showcases the projects related to “last mile solutions” and “community vulnerabilities to climate change” Learn how changes in the daily life of our communities can help lessen the impact of climate change.
Modelling climate change
This recording showcases the projects related to climate change projections and fire risk modeling. Learn about different ways scientists are modeling climate change scenarios.
The City of Edmonton recognizes the important role that science plays in making climate-related decisions for policy and action. The Climate Resilient Edmonton: Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan and Edmonton’s Community Energy Transition Strategy are both founded on science; the need for scientific research will only grow as we continue to navigate climate change.