Acknowledgements The District of Ucluelet would like to thank the following stakeholders for their contributions in making this an impactful and community-focused action plan: Clayoquot Biosphere Trust Parks Canada Alberni Clayoquot Health Network Tourism Ucluelet Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce District of Ucluelet Staff and Council Project Staff Mark Boysen, Chief Administrative Officer, District of Ucluelet Abby Fortune, Manager of Parks and Recreation Bruce Greg, Manager of Community Planning Warren Cannon, Manager of Public Works Summer Goulden, Climate Change Planner and BC Lead, ICLEI Canada Land Acknowledgement The District of Ucluelet acknowledges that we are located on the traditional territory (ḥaaḥuułi) of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation). We are neighbouring communities who share interests in the Ucluth Peninsula and surrounding area. Our long-standing relationship is built upon mutual respect and many individual, personal ties. © 2020, District of Ucluelet. All Rights Reserved. The preparation of this plan was carried out with assistance from the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Notwithstanding this support, the views expressed are the personal views of the authors, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Government of Canada accept no responsibility for them. Photo credit on front cover: Barbara Schramm Table of Contents Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. 1 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Adaptation Changemakers .................................................................................................................. 8 ICLEI Canada’s Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities Framework ................................... 9 Adaptation vs. Mitigation .................................................................................................................. 10 Global and National Climate Change ............................................................................................... 11 Federal Policy Direction on Climate Adaptation ............................................................................. 12 Provincial Policy Direction on Climate Adaptation ........................................................................ 13 Climate Science ................................................................................................................................... 14 Climate Change Projections for Ucluelet ......................................................................................... 15 Impacts and Issues ............................................................................................................................. 21 Vulnerability and Risk Assessment .................................................................................................. 21 Future Directions ................................................................................................................................ 23 Objectives and Actions ....................................................................................................................... 23 Implementation Schedules ................................................................................................................ 25 Implementation and Governance ..................................................................................................... 36 Monitoring and Review ...................................................................................................................... 38 Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................ 38 APPENDIX A – Climate Action Implementation Tables ................................................................... 39 APPENDIX B – Glossary of Terms ....................................................................................................... 61 APPENDIX C – Acronyms ..................................................................................................................... 64 References ........................................................................................................................................... 65 2 Executive Summary The District of Ucluelet is committed educate and implement climate to taking meaningful action on climate change adaptation measures in the change while including the community broader community. in this process every step of the way. The District has already developed a Throughout this adaptation planning 100% Renewable Energy Plan that process, a community stakeholder carves out a path towards a low group came together over a two-tear carbon future and has signed on to period to learn about the projected the BC Climate Action Charter. This impacts of climate change on the Adaptation Plan builds upon existing region, to assess and prioritize actions taken by the District to Ucluelet’s top risks from a changing address climate change and allows the climate, and to identify actions that District to proactively identify both the District and community can opportunities for action that advance take to improve resiliency in Ucluelet the community further toward climate and the region. resilience of its social, economic, built and natural systems. The top risks include impacts to infrastructure, utilities, and the The intent of this plan is to help transportation network from more organizations, institutions, businesses, extreme weather events, impacts to and individuals of all ages adapt to water supply and storage from rising current and future climate-related annual temperatures and hotter, drier risks and opportunities. Although the summers, impacts to the marine District has a primary role for most environment including aquatic actions outlined in the Plan, they look species, and impacts to both native to various stakeholders to further and invasive species. The adaptation actions identified to address Ucluelet’s priority risks were divided into the following five overarching objectives: 1. Strengthen Infrastructure Resilience and Reduce Risk to Buildings and Property 2. Enhance Resilience of Ecosystems and Protect Natural Areas 3. Improve Public Safety and Preparedness to Climate-related Events 4. Think Regionally, Act Locally 5. Integrate Climate Change Thinking into Future Planning 3 4 Introduction Scientific evidence continues to show Our future is not what we planned it that human actions are having a to be and therefore, we must plan to significant impact on the natural and adapt. The risk is that the changes are anthropogenic systems of our planet. unprecedented, and we may not be These impacts will have long-lasting equipped. If we wait to see what effects in the region, materializing as impacts are going to materialize, we climatic changes such as increased risk being unable to effectively summer and winter temperatures, respond to manage the consequences increased frequency and intensity of that will result. In waiting, we also miss wind and storm events, and sea level out on the opportunity to reduce the rise. impacts and even capitalize on some of the positive benefits that could Our natural environments and our arise. cities are especially at risk to these changes. The sensitivity of ecosystems To prepare, we must first continue to change may mean a dramatic shift forward with our long-term strategy to to existing habitats and to our natural reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) by environments as we know it. For implementing mitigation actions that communities with the concentration address the root causes of climate of people, buildings, infrastructure, change. The Ucluelet Climate Action and transportation systems in a Plan, approved by Council in January relatively small area, climate-related 2019, has set a path for the impacts will have an adverse effect on municipality to make these economic, social, and environmental reductions. Secondly, we must well-being. prepare to adapt to the changes and impacts that are coming or already underway. 5 By preparing to adapt to this uncertain future, we will enhance the resilience of our natural environment and communities, reducing the risk that climate events will impact our community. Adaptation and Mitigation measures will overlap in some areas and these dual benefit actions will be a priority. The District’s Climate Action Plan carves a path towards a low carbon future: A future where Ucluelet residents experience the benefits of a connected, healthy, and economically prosperous community, while taking action on climate change and adapting to climate impacts. This Plan outlines a few key climate action principles that speak to both adaptation and mitigation initiatives, including: Figure 1 Climate action principles from the District of Ucluelet’s Climate Action Plan 6 The District of Ucluelet, like most communities across British Columbia, is responding to climate change. Ucluelet signed on to the BC Climate Action Charter, committing to working towards carbon neutral operations, measuring community emissions, and creating a complete, compact community. Provincial legislation requires that each local