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Moderator: Jim Vanderwal

Sea Level Rise Doesn’t Stop at Municipal Boundaries: Collaborative, Multi-sectoral Adaptation Planning on Vancouver’s North Shore

Presenter: Amir Taleghani

Sea level rise is a significant concern for the North Shore area of BC’s Lower Mainland region, which is home to over 180,000 people, the Port of Vancouver, and vast natural and cultural assets. As a local "first" for sea level rise adaptation, three municipalities, the Port of Vancouver and the Squamish Nation have partnered to develop the North Shore Sea Level Rise Risk Assessment and Adaptive Management Strategy. The project supports the development of a coordinated adaptation strategy informed by assessing sea level rise risk and developing adaptation measures to manage risk across six sectors: building and infrastructure, transportation, economy, environment, social, and culture and heritage.

This presentation, by the project consultant team from Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL), will share out on the approach, results, and lessons learned through the project.

The University of British Columbia’s Living Breakwaters Project: A Multi-layered Approach to Coastal Adaptation

Presenter: Kees Lokman

Coastal erosion is a growing challenge across Canada, which boasts the longest coastline in the world. Natural Resources Canada has provided generous support to the Living Breakwaters project at the University of British Columbia to develop a layered approach to coastal adaptation. The Living Breakwaters project is an umbrella project to advance climate change adaptation knowledge in the Lower Mainland and to develop nature-based solutions for the erosion of the cliffs at the University of British Columbia’s Point Grey campus. Sub-projects include the development of tools and visuals to explore coastal adaptation pathways that incorporate living systems and enhance local and regional ecosystems and spatial quality.

This presentation will showcase outcomes of sub-projects that were undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and practitioners, including visualization tools for innovative adaptation options and visual narratives illustrating the implications of flooding on various sectors through cascading effects.