Leading sustained impact toward climate action in Canada

April 26, 2022 - Waterloo Intact Centre works to reduce the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, and lead the charge for Canada's sustainable climate action - By Jude Okonkwo Faculty of Environment - The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo is renewing its efforts to work with homeowners, communities, governments, and businesses to identify and reduce risks associated with climate change and extreme weather events, such as flooding, wildfire and extreme heat. Flooding, wildfire and extreme heat are natural processes in Canada. Climate change is causing shifts in the timing, frequency and intensity of these processes to varying degrees across the country. Where we locate our communities and how we build them, play a significant role in our exposure to damage from these natural processes. Extreme weather of one type, such as extreme heat, can also increase the hot, dry conditions necessary for wildfires. Wildfire-impacted landscapes, with lost plant cover and scorched soils are more vulnerable to flooding. By working with community stakeholders to create tools to help them retain and restore natural infrastructure, improve their ability to accommodate natural processes and to build extreme-weather adapted homes, businesses and infrastructure, the Intact Centre is helping communities to reduce the impacts of this climate-influenced "domino effect." In doing its work, Waterloo's Intact Centre has translated research, mobilized guidelines and standards, and promoted climate adaptation solutions through strategic partnerships to raise awareness and deepen the knowledge of climate change and extreme weather risk in Canada.