OTTAWA (ON), November 23, 2022 /CNW/ – Climate change has a direct impact on natural disasters, including floods, increasing the scale, frequency and unpredictability of these events. This is why the government of Canada made investments to strengthen from Canada resilience to climate change and reduce the impact of floods on our communities.
Today, the Honorable Bill Blair, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, announced new federal funding of more than $585,000 for a research project led by the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) that will examine how much flooding will cost in the future and how public policies can contribute to from Canada resilience to climate change.
This project, carried out in partnership with the Bureau d’assurance de Canada (IBC), the University Laval and the University of Waterloobuilds on other work, including the report of the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Flood Insurance and Relocation Adapting to rising flood risks: an analysis of insurance solutions for Canadawhich provides the evidence and information needed to support decision-making and the way forward for a national flood insurance program, with particular considerations for the potential strategic relocation of people to high-risk areas.
The government of Canada will continue to help Canadians whose jobs and lives are impacted by disasters, help communities prepare for the realities of increasing climate-related risks and disasters, and ultimately increase the country’s resilience to the effects of floods.
Quotation
“Flooding and the risk of repeated flooding can have a big impact on our sense of security. As climate change increases the frequency of flooding across the country, Canadians deserve access to financial protection. This research project will support our government’s goal of increasing flood resilience using science-based solutions, and I am grateful for the leadership of these three institutions and the Bureau of Insurance. Canada in improving flood risk management.”
“Canada is warming twice as fast as the planet and up to three times the global average in the North. Adaptation is about being better prepared to respond to and recover from climate change events, thereby reducing the impacts on Canadians and communities. The choices and adaptation actions we take today will help shape the future of our communities, our livelihoods, the environment and the economy. »
“A pioneer in environmental sciences and in the analysis of risks related to climate change, the University of Quebec in Montreal is proud to be associated with this partnership for the future. Bringing together experts, teacher-researchers and practitioners, this large-scale project will identify concrete solutions to reduce the financial risks associated with floods, which often result in individual, social and territorial disasters.”
“Cost of flood risk across Canada is essential for developing and prioritizing measures to reduce this risk. IBC is pleased to partner with Public Safety Canada to support UQAM in this important research and to expand the costing work undertaken for the Task Force on Flood Insurance and Relocation. At a time when these risks are amplified by climate change, this is a difficult task, but UQAM has shown that it is up to it. »
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Craig StewartVice President, Climate Change and Federal Issues, Insurance Bureau of Canada
“Anchored at the border between actuarial sciences and climate sciences, this research will make it possible to develop the mathematical tools necessary for quantifying the impacts of climate change on the financial management of floods. In collaboration with the University Laval and the University of Waterloo, the project will help develop leaders in actuarial science, risk management and public policy design. The ultimate goal is to build Canadians’ resilience to climate change. »
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Mathieu Boudreaultactuary and professor in the Department of Mathematics at UQAM, and principal researcher of the project
Fast facts
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In addition to the release of the Flood Insurance and Relocation Task Force report Adapting to rising flood risks: an analysis of insurance solutions for Canadathe government of Canada develops the country’s first national adaptation strategy. This strategy will describe how the Canadian economy and society can be more resilient and better prepared for the impacts of climate change.
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To support the development of this strategy, Public Safety Canada co-chaired a Disaster Resilience and Security Advisory Table that included diverse stakeholders, including representatives from National Indigenous Organizations, non-governmental organizations, academia , industry associations and others. The Strategy represents a shared vision of climate resilience by Canadasupports the improvement of flood resilience and complements investments in this research project.
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More $585,000 of federal funding announced today:
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Public Safety Canada’s Policy Development Contribution Program (PDCP) supports strategic projects undertaken by departmental stakeholders that contribute to policy development and improved service delivery in the areas of public safety and emergency management.
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The program funds an average of 5 to 6 projects per fiscal year. Projects are cost-shared, where total government funding at all levels is no more than 95% of total project costs.
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Since 2019, the government of Canada advanced on a number of initiatives, in collaboration with all levels of government and stakeholders, to improve flood resiliency and mitigation. This includes:
Related links
SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2022/23/c9460.html
