Disaster, climate-risk information helps communities be resilient – BC Gov News

Report on British Columbia’s New Disaster and Climate Resilience Initiatives

Introduction: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals through Risk Reduction

The Province of British Columbia has launched two new resources to enhance community preparedness for natural hazards and climate-related emergencies. The British Columbia Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment (DCRRA) and the B.C. Hazard Insights Tool (HIT) are designed to provide critical data to decision-makers. These initiatives directly support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by making human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

Provincial Resources for Enhanced Resilience

The newly developed tools provide province-wide information to help experts, local governments, First Nations, and provincial ministries better understand and mitigate risks. This data-driven approach is fundamental to building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable community planning.

• Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment (DCRRA): This is the first provincial-scale disaster risk assessment since 1997. It provides comprehensive information on specific hazards and their potential cumulative impacts.
• B.C. Hazard Insights Tool (HIT): This tool allows disaster-management planners to model the potential impacts of various hazard scenarios on communities, the economy, and the environment, thereby enabling proactive risk reduction strategies.

Strategic Alignment with Global and Provincial Frameworks

The provincial strategy is aligned with established international and local mandates for disaster risk reduction and climate accountability, reinforcing a commitment to sustainable and equitable development.

1. United Nations Sendai Framework: The DCRRA aligns with the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, a global blueprint for managing disaster risk.
2. Provincial Legislation: The initiative fulfills requirements under B.C.’s Emergency and Disaster Management Act and the Climate Change Accountability Act, which mandate public disclosure of risks and regular reporting.
3. Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals: The program’s focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion, especially through collaboration with First Nations, supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by fostering inclusive decision-making.

Hazard Focus and Contribution to SDGs

The DCRRA provides detailed information on six primary hazards, the management of which is crucial for achieving multiple SDGs.

• River and stream flooding
• Coastal flooding
• Extreme heat (Directly impacting SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being)
• Wildfire
• Drought and water scarcity (Directly impacting SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation)
• Earthquake

By addressing these hazards, the province strengthens its capacity to protect citizens and ecosystems, a core tenet of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Collaborative Partnerships and Future Outlook

The development of these resources exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), involving collaboration with over 200 subject-matter experts and organizations. This multi-stakeholder partnership included First Nations and Indigenous organizations, academic institutions, local governments, and non-governmental organizations.

Future work will expand to include additional hazards and provide more detailed guidance for ministries and public-sector agencies to conduct their own risk assessments. This ongoing effort lays the groundwork for a new, integrated approach to understanding risk and building a more resilient and sustainable province in the face of a changing climate.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

Explanation of Connection

The article focuses on new resources developed in British Columbia to enhance community preparedness and resilience against natural hazards and climate-related emergencies. This directly connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) centered on building resilient infrastructure, making human settlements safe, taking urgent action to combat climate change, and fostering partnerships to achieve these goals.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article’s core theme is making communities safer and more resilient. The development of the Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment (DCRRA) and the B.C. Hazard Insights Tool (HIT) is aimed at protecting people and communities from disasters like floods, wildfires, and earthquakes, which is a central aspect of SDG 11.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly states that “Climate-related emergencies are becoming more frequent” and the new resources help manage risks associated with a “changing climate.” This directly addresses the need for climate change adaptation and strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards, which is the primary focus of SDG 13.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The development of the DCRRA and HIT involved extensive collaboration. The article mentions that “More than 200 subject-matter experts and organizations including First Nations and Indigenous organizations, academic and technical institutions, local governments, non-governmental organizations and community groups collaborated with the Province.” This multi-stakeholder approach is a key principle of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Explanation of Connection

The article’s details about risk assessment, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation align with specific targets under the identified SDGs.

• Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.” The DCRRA and HIT are designed to help experts “better understand how different hazard scenarios could affect people and communities” and “reduce risk,” which directly contributes to the goal of reducing the impact of disasters.
• Target 11.b: “…implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.” The article explicitly states that “The provincial DCRRA aligns with the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction,” demonstrating a direct implementation of this target.
• Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The entire initiative described in the article is about strengthening resilience. The tools provide “provincewide information and data” to help communities “better prepare for emergencies and keep people safer from the risks associated with natural hazards and a changing climate.”
• Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The article’s description of the collaboration involving over 200 organizations, including government, First Nations, academic institutions, and NGOs, is a clear example of the multi-stakeholder partnership promoted by this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Explanation of Connection

While the article does not list official UN indicator codes, it provides information that can serve as qualitative and quantitative indicators of progress toward the identified targets.

• Development of national and local disaster risk reduction strategies: The creation of the “Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment” itself serves as a key indicator. The article notes it is the “first provincial-scale disaster risk assessment in B.C. since 1997,” signifying a major step in implementing a comprehensive risk reduction strategy.
• Availability of publicly accessible risk information and assessment tools: The launch of the DCRRA and the “B.C. Hazard Insights Tool (HIT)” is a direct indicator of progress. These resources provide “access to risk information” for local governments, First Nations, and emergency specialists, enhancing institutional capacity.
• Number of stakeholders involved in developing risk reduction strategies: The article implies a clear indicator by stating that “More than 200 subject-matter experts and organizations” collaborated on the project. This number and the diversity of the groups (First Nations, academic, government, NGOs) can be used to measure the strength of the partnership.
• Alignment of provincial strategies with international frameworks: The explicit mention that “The provincial DCRRA aligns with the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction” is a qualitative indicator that the province is adopting global best practices for disaster risk management.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: news.gov.bc.ca