The purpose of this report is to summarize and outline the expected changes to Vancouver’s climate in the future, identify the potential impacts of these changes, and recommend a comprehensive Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (see Appendix A) that contributes to the City’s ability to deal with a changing climate over the long term. Development of a plan for adaptation to climate change is a strategy in the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan. An interdepartmental staff team, in consultation with senior levels of government, academic institutions and regional local governments, have developed a suite of actions as part of the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. The actions chosen are those that will provide benefits for the community regardless of the extent of climate change experienced. Integration with existing projects is also a priority, and new actions are proposed where there is a high benefit to cost ratio, or impacts are already being experienced. The Strategy is a living document that will be reviewed annually and updated every five years to incorporate the best available science and best practices in this emerging field.

While there are numerous supporting actions, this report recommends undertaking the following 9 primary actions to begin this work:

• Complete a Coastal Flood Risk Assessment;
• Amend Flood-proofing policies;
• Develop and implement a Citywide Integrated Storm-water Management Plan;
• Continue with sewer separation;
• Develop a back-up power policy;
• Continue to implement water conservation actions;
• Support and expand extreme heat planning;
• Include climate change adaptation measures in the next Vancouver Building Bylaw update; and
• Develop and implement a comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan.