CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN FOR THE AGGLOMERATION OF MONTRÉAL 20152020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This document was produced by the Service de l’environnement under the supervision of Roger Lachance, Director of the Service de l’environnement. COMMUNICATION Service des communications, Ville de Montréal GRAPHIC PRODUCTION Service de l’environnement, Ville de Montréal 3rd quarter 2015 ISBN 978-2-922388-69-5 (PDF) ISBN 978-2-922388-70-1 (Print) Legal deposit – Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 2015 Legal deposit – Library and Archives Canada, 2015 2 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 20152020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A MESSAGE FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS The undeniable role of cities Heat waves, heavy rainfalls, in the fi ght and adaptation to freezing rain… the extreme climate change is recognized climate events of the past few throughout the world. Densely years demonstrate that the populated urban centres are effects of climate change are on the fi rst lines of the adverse already being felt. These new consequences that may result conditions represent a challenge, from climate change. But cities but also opportunities that may are also environments that be seized to position Montréal in are conducive to innovation the vanguard of cities in terms of and action. That is why we are sustainable development. taking our responsibilities and are planning for a better quality of living for present and future This fi rst adaptation plan highlights our territory’s vulnerabilities generations of Montrealers. to climate change. The impacts observed and anticipated on the population, infrastructures, the natural environment and all of the The Agglomeration of Montréal committed to reducing its activities that take place on the island are undeniable. The sum greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by adopting, in 2013, its of the data consolidated in this plan provides solid arguments on Plan de réduction des émissions de GES de la collectivité the importance of moving from a strategizing mode to an action montréalaise 2013-2020. Despite our mitigation efforts, mode, and that is what we are committed to doing. some of the apprehended climate disruptions are already observed: heat waves, heavy rainfalls, ice storms, etc. A strategy This adaptation plan presents concrete measures to address aiming to curtail the negative impacts of climate change is climate hazards that already affect us and whose impacts will essential for our administration and citizens. That is why I am likely be heightened in the coming years. Climate projections proud to present this fi rst Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the confi rm that heat waves, heavy rainfalls and destructive storms Agglomeration of Montréal 2015-2020. will occur more frequently. This adaptation process is the ideal opportunity for us to modify and improve our measures to With this adaptation plan, many ambitious commitments mitigate the impacts of climate change. have been undertaken by central departments, boroughs and municipalities. The measures announced aim to reduce heat This plan is the result of a successful collaboration between the islands, enhance biodiversity protection, manage runoffs, various actors in the Montréal agglomeration. Specialists in the increase the resilience of infrastructures and adopt new fi elds of the environment, water management, infrastructures, practices with respect to the offering of recreational activities, buildings, green spaces and land use as well as representatives to name but a few. from all the boroughs and cities within the agglomeration have contributed to the development of this tool which will prove This plan is just a fi rst step in a very concrete approach that instrumental in increasing our agglomeration’s resilience in the not only consolidates our strengths and reinforces our ability next fi ve years. to address all of these disruptions, but also demonstrates our resoluteness to maintain and enhance the quality of the living environments of our citizens. Denis Coderre Réal Ménard Mayor of Montreal and President of the Montreal Executive Committee member in charge of sustainable development, Metropolitan Community the environment, large parks and green spaces CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 20152020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 MONTRÉAL ADAPTS TO CLIMATE CHANGE The last decades have been crucial in terms of the climate. There have been countless extreme meteorological events throughout the world and their impacts have been extremely varied. Climate change and their amplifi cation have been confi rmed by the scientifi c community, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This changing climate is already being felt by the agglomeration of Montréal. The heat waves, fl oods and freezing rains recorded in recent years, which have resulted in many material and fi nancial damages, and had a disruptive effect on the population’s activities, are all manifestations of these climate change. The agglomeration of Montréal is already dealing with changes that impact both the natural and built environments, the population and socioeconomic activities. Many non-climate factors, such as the age of infrastructures, land-use or socio-demographic characteristics will either amplify or, on the contrary, mitigate their apprehended repercussions. Two types of joint actions are feasible regarding climate change: mitigation (also called reduction) and adaptation. Mitigation consists in reducing the intensity of these changes Credit: © Denis Labine, Ville de Montréal by diminishing anthropogenic (man-made) greenhouse gases. Montréal, toward this aim, has developed a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan (Plan de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre de la collectivité montréalaise 2013-2020). ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE Adaptation consists in assessing the impacts of climate change on the agglomeration and implementing the necessary Adaptation to climate change is a process whereby measures to minimize them. Adaptation measures make the communities and ecosystems make adjustments to agglomeration more resilient to climate change, allowing it to restrict the negative impacts of climate change and take advantage of their potential benefi ts. better react and reorganize itself while securing its essential functions and its identity. Resilience refers to the capacity of a community’s This fi rst climate change adaptation plan, a collaborative effort economic, social, political and physical infrastructure between municipal departments, local administrations and systems to absorb shocks and stresses and still retain the Service de l’environnement, is only the starting point of an their basic function and structure.* iterative process that will be enhanced in the coming years, to * Source : Craig Applegath, www.resilientcity.org refl ect the accumulation of changing data on the climate and the inherent risks as well as the effectiveness of the measures that will have been implemented. 4 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLAN 20152020 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PLAN OBJECTIVES PLAN CONTENTS The adaptation plan has been designed with three specifi c This plan presents, in a fi rst volume, a diagnosis of the objectives in mind, namely: adaptation challenges faced by the agglomeration of Montréal. It presents the vulnerability analysis of the agglomeration 1. Consolidate all of the adaptation measures already regarding six climatic hazards: in place which, while not specifi cally referring to an adaptation to climate change, truly serve that purpose • increase in average temperatures, Many of the climate impacts on health issues and issues • heavy rainfalls, dealing with the protection of both natural and built • heat waves, environments are already built into many of the plans and • destructive storms, strategies of the agglomeration of Montréal. More than • droughts and 30 strategies, policies, plans and regulations associated, • fl oods. directly or indirectly, with climate change can be identifi ed. For each of these hazards, a description of the meteorological This adaptation plan supports initiatives that have already observations and climate projections is presented. Then been announced and provides solid arguments regarding follows an impact review of the hazard on the built and natural the importance of implementing and acting on strategies. environments, the population and the municipal activities. Finally, a vulnerability analysis of the agglomeration of Montreal 2. Provide the relevant information on the is presented, in the form of a map when possible. vulnerabilities associated with climate change for all of the agglomeration’s municipalities The second volume is entirely dedicated to adaptation Although climate projections are consistent throughout measures. It focuses on actions that need to be consolidated or the agglomeration, vulnerability factors vary according developed and on the commitments of the various entities that to one’s geographic location on the Island of Montréal. make up the agglomeration of Montréal. Consequently, it is essential to appreciate the local variations in vulnerability levels to best orient one’s actions according to local circumstances and focus one’s efforts where a greater vulnerability is observed. 3. Plan for the development of the agglomeration and its maintenance and repair operations in light of the constraints associated with climate change This objective speaks to the very essence of a climate change adaptation plan, by encouraging new ways of thinking and doing things among stakeholders within the agglomeration, to reduce the inherent risks