Concurrent Sessions 8 | Feb 21, 2020 > (CS8-SS) Should I stay or should I go?: Navigating buyouts, relocation and reinvestment for flood mitigation and disaster risk reduction

(CS8-SS) Should I stay or should I go?: Navigating buyouts, relocation and reinvestment for flood mitigation and disaster risk reduction

posted on 1:45 PM, August 15, 2019

Moderator: Pamela Kertland

Presenters: Graham Watt, Dr. Kate Sherren, Frank Frigo and John Sommerville

Climate change adaptation has traditionally focused on “holding the line” approaches and the use of structural protective measures to protect communities from the impacts of flooding or coastal erosion. Managed retreat, which refers to any strategic decision to withdraw, relocate or abandon private or public property can be a cost-effective, viable long-term solution, but comes with a unique set of legal, economic, social and psychological challenges.

A panel of three speakers, moderated by Natural Resources Canada, will share their perspectives and experiences on retreat, followed by a discussion with all session participants about enablers, barriers and pathways to an equitable approach to retreat. The goal of the session will be to draw out which practices work and elements to consider when trying to address this challenging question.