THUNDER BAY -- The city thinks it could a leader when it comes to adapting to climate change.
After more than two years, council will vote to approve it's Climate Adaptation Strategy Monday, with seven directions that would cross all city department decision-making to try and become more resilient when it comes to extreme weather. Climate adaptation coordinator
Curniss McGoldrick said by 2020, the Insurance Bureau of Canada predicts extreme weather will cause $5 billion in damage. The city has already seen the impacts of extreme weather through hail storms in 2011, the flood of 2012 and harsh winters of 2013 and 2014. This strategy will help the city lessen the impacts of that weather, from a new emergency response plan and urban forestry to land use planning and finding better ways to manage storm water.
"It's really a strategy about informing these broader municipal processes so that adaptation happens across the board," she said.
"What we can do to increase resilience."
There's no budget associated with the strategy. McGoldrick said it would be up to departments to make decisions based on the strategy.
"It's hard to predict what the price will be for action versus inaction," she said.
An open house on the plan is set for Thursday at the Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
