Module 1: Foundations of Climate Change Policy
Video: Global Commission on Adaptation (gca.org)
Adapting to climate change is important in order: to protect people, communities and livelihoods on a day-to-day basis, to reduce vulnerability, and to build resilience. This allows all of us to thrive amidst the consequences of a changing climate.
In your sector, (whether as engineers, hydrologists, agrologists or in another profession), your day-to-day activities largely take place within a policy framework of some kind, whether legislative, regulatory, or in the form of guidelines.
Whether you are aware of it yet or not, you are also working within the climate change policy space. This policy space can include frameworks as high level and voluntary as, for example agreements made by Canada to participate as a member country in the international Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (ipcc.ch), or as locally based as a Climate Adaptation chapter in a BC municipality’s Official Community Plan (OCP).
This course will provide information about the range of climate policy frameworks that act as context, and/or act as the ‘rulebook’ for your work as industry professionals. It will also offer discussions and activities that allow you to consider how to apply this knowledge in your own function and role.
This module (Module 1) covers topics like: the role of public policy, what is climate adaptation policy, why do we need climate adaptation policy, and the connection between higher level policy and your work as professionals.
So what will you be doing in this module? You will watch some lecture video content, hear interviews with relevant experts in short videos, read some materials and respond to a few questions about them, and finally, contribute to some class discussions. You can work through the material in any order you like. Welcome to Module 1 !
Discussion #1 – Climate Change Adaptation Impacts and Issues
This first discussion space will set the stage for your learning in this course, by thinking first about climate change impacts. It will also allow you to share your ideas and knowledge with other learners.
Please click on the link above to start a new thread, and share your thoughts on the following topic:
WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND ISSUES THAT YOU SEE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IN YOUR JOB?
Respond to at least two other people’s posts (or as many as you like), in order for us to generate a conversation about this topic amongst our class. I will also respond to as many as I can.
Let me start with an example from my own day-to-day experience, so you can see the kind of thing I am hoping you can also share.
Every year at Vancouver Island University, we have a number of ‘snow days’ where school is cancelled to reduce risks to faculty, staff and students from travelling to and from, and also reduce risk from being on our hilly campus with its own cooler microclimate. As climate change advances, we expect to see more extreme weather, including more winter precipitation, meaning more ‘snow days’ where VIU may be closed. If students have to miss more classes, this may have an impact on how we teach, leading us to consider developing more fully online, or blended (partially online) classes than we have had in the past; so that extra cancelled days of school doesn’t mean students have to stop learning. (We have, of course, already had to do this because of COVID-19).
What is an example you can share?
Next is a short video interview with Dr. Jeff Lewis that will provide some basic scientific information about what kinds of climate change impacts we might see in the future. Dr. Lewis will also highlight how scientists think about the connection between climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. This is an important distinction in climate change policy.
Video attribution: “Jeff Lewis” by Michele Patterson, Introduction to Climate Policy for Climate Adaptation Professionals, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Lectures
Lecture #1 What is Public Policy? (8 minutes)
Video attribution: “Lecture #1” by Michele Patterson, Introduction to Climate Policy for Climate Adaptation Professionals, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Lecture #2 What is Climate Adaptation Policy? (16 minutes)
Video attribution: “Lecture #2” by Michele Patterson, Introduction to Climate Policy for Climate Adaptation Professionals, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Interviews with Experts
These three, short pre-recorded videos offer you a chance to hear from some experts about climate adaptation policy. There is a place following these videos, where we can have a bit of a discussion about anything here that particularly interested you.
First Nations Lens: Dallas Smith, Board President, Nanwakolas Council, Campbell River, BC
Video attribution: “First Nations Lens: Dallas Smith, Board President, Nanwakolas Council, Campbell River, BC” by Michele Patterson, Introduction to Climate Policy for Climate Adaptation Professionals, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
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Key Takeaways
Please watch the video above to see Dallas’ response to the following two questions:
1. As President of Nanwakolas Council, you support your member First Nations with information services, technical support, coordination and advice to assist them in their decision-making and work. How is Nanwakolas Council supporting its member nations in preparing to adapt to the realities of climate change?
2. What does Nanwakolas Council still need from other governments and agencies in terms of policy guidance or other supports in order to ensure your member nations are prepared to adapt to climate change?
Federal Lens: Craig Stewart, VP Federal Affairs, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Video attribution: “Federal Lens: Craig Stewart, VP Federal Affairs, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario” by Michele Patterson, Introduction to Climate Policy for Climate Adaptation Professionals, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Key Takeaways
Please watch the video above, for Craig’s response to the following two questions:
1. Your job as VP, Federal Affairs, for the Insurance Bureau of Canada involves leading their work on disaster resilience and climate change. You have also been part of a Federal Expert Panel on climate change adaptation. How would you characterize the Federal Government’s work on climate change adaptation policy?
2. What are the financial risks for Canada in not addressing climate adaptation right? (for people, for assets, for economy, etc.)
Organizational Lens: Robert Okashimo, Director, Enterprise Risk Management, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC
Video attribution: “Organizational Lens: Robert Okashimo, Director, Enterprise Risk Management, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC” by Michele Patterson, Introduction to Climate Policy for Climate Adaptation Professionals, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Key Takeaways
Please watch the video above for Robert’s response to the following two questions:
1. Your job as Director, Enterprise Risk Management at Vancouver Island University means that, among other risks, you would be the person who would be in charge of planning for climate change risks to VIU assets and people. How would you describe some of the climate change risks that you might have to consider?
2. What policy frameworks or other guidance do risk management experts work within, and what are some examples of how these would be used in thinking about adapting to the impacts of climate change?
Discussion: Module 1 Interviews with Experts
Was there something in one of these three videos that stood out to you? Do you have a question about anything you heard here? Share it with us, by starting a new thread and we can discuss it as a class.