Collingwood’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan sets a path forward for the Town to prepare for changing weather. It identifies the highest priority risks here at home and details an action plan to best protect people, services, infrastructure and natural spaces.
Preparing for a Changing Climate
The weather in Collingwood has been changing, and is already having an impact and creating risk. The Climate Change Adaptation Plan identifies the four highest priority changes and vulnerabilities for the Town:
- Heavier and more frequent storms and flooding
- Hotter summers with more heat waves
- Changing winters with more mixed rain and snow and less frost
- Changes to the lake ice, water levels and shoreline erosion
These changes are causing pressure to the community and the Town's services, infrastructure and natural areas like parks and the waterfront.
Why does it matter?
Climate adaptation is about preparing for the impacts of a changing climate and reduce risks to our community. Changing weather impacts us in real ways: health, safety, and quality of life for us, plants, and animals. It also impacts us financially because the risks and costs will continue to grow over time if we don’t plan ahead, and reacting to disasters always cost more than proactive planning.
This chart shows what the impacts are based on the highest priority climate risks in Collingwood.
| Climate Risk | What this means for Collingwood |
|---|---|
| Severe Storms | Flooding and property damage, sewer backups, power outages, damage to roads, buildings, bridges, trees, parks, waterfront, disruptions to emergency services; higher costs to recover |
| Extreme Heat | Air quality and respiratory health risks, heat-related health risks, less outdoor activity, need for more cooling centres, more droughts and potential for water restrictions, changes to local ecosystems |
| Changing Winters and Freeze/Thaw Patterns | Pavement and sewers deteriorate faster (potholes, cracking), less outdoor winter activity like skiing and skating, dangerous travel conditions, impacts to plants and animals |
| Lake Level Changes | Risks to life and safety, poorer water quality, damage to the waterfront and local fish and habitats, disruption to facilities and amenities at the harbour and along the shoreline |
What is the Town doing?
The Town is taking a coordinated approach when it comes to reducing our impact on climate change while preparing for changing weather.
The Climate Change Adaptation Plan is one of three climate change plans. The others include the Greener Collingwood Corporate Climate Change Action Plan and the Sustainable Collingwood Community Climate Change Action Plan.
They align with other existing Master Plans such as for stormwater management and asset management. These plans ensure we are planning ahead, taking a thoughtful approach to managing tax dollars and managing our investments wisely.
Because climate change affects us all, we are also working closely with other community partners to take a collaborative approach. They include organizations and other sectors such as the Conservation Authority, emergency services, the Health Unit and other community partnerships.
Three Themes for Climate Adaptation
When it comes to adapting to climate change and preparing for the impacts of weather changes, the Adaptation Plan breaks down into three priority areas to protect:
