Project: Ontario Regional Adaptation Collaborative

The Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR) is an Ontario partner in Natural Resources Canada's Regional Adaptation Collaboratives (RACs) Climate Change Program. It is a three year program to help Canadians reduce the risks and maximize the opportunities posed by climate change. The Program is in place to help communities prepare for and adapt to local impacts posed by our changing climate, such as: decreasing fresh water supplies; increasing droughts, floods and coastal erosion; and changing forestry, fisheries and agricultural resources. The goal of the Program is to catalyze coordinated and sustained adaptation planning, decision-making and action, across Canada's diverse regions. The RACs Program is a partnership between the federal government, provinces and territories, working with local governments and organizations.

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/environment/impacts-adaptation/regional-initiatives/collaboratives/10639p

OCCIAR Workshops

Climate Change and Conservation Authorities in Northern Ontario

OCCIAR held Climate Change and Conservation Authorities in Northern Ontario Workshop in Sudbury on February 16 and 17, 2010. Attended by the five northern Conservation Authorities (Nickel District Conservation Authority, Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority, North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority, Mattagami Conservation Authority and Lakehead Region Conservation Authorities and Conservation Ontario) the workshop focused on adaptation and included presentations on Source Water Protection, Ecosystems, Tourism and Recreation, Industry, Human Health, Perspectives from other CAs and Urban Flooding.
Barrie in a Changing Climate: a Focus on Adaptation

OCCIAR held a workshop on March 30th in Barrie. Attended by city staff, local conservation authorities and consultants, the workshop focused on the science of climate change, municipal infrastructure, stormwater management and urban flooding, source water protection, tools and frameworks for adaptation and the vulnerability/risk assessment framework.
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in Northern Ontario

Invited by the Mayors of Iroquois Falls and Matheson, OCCIAR hosted a half day workshop in the Town of Iroquois Falls and communicated the latest science pertaining to climate change, and gained an understanding of the challenges facing these two communities in the context of changing weather and climate. Attendees of this half day interactive workshop not only heard about climate change impacts and adaptation, they were invited to response to specific questions about their experiences with changing weather and climate.
Climate Related Risks and the Mining Sector

OCCIAR partnered with the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and co-hosted Climate Related Risks and the Mining Sector workshop in February 2012. This workshop brought together climate change experts with mining practitioners (executives, operators/managers, environmental, engineers, consultants and provincial and federal government representatives) to advance the level of knowledge of climate change impacts on mining operations. The workshop also highlighted the ways in which mine operators can assess and manage weather and climate-related risks.
The mining-climate change workshop was video recorded and the videos are posted on the CEMI website.
(http://www.miningexcellence.ca/knowledge/reports/
Adaptation Planning - Next Steps for Northern Ontario Conservation Authorities

In order to bolster activity in the area of climate change adaptation in Northern Ontario Conservation Authorities, OCCIAR developed and hosted a second Ontario RAC workshop in March 2012. The goal of Adaptation Planning – Next Steps for Northern Ontario Conservation Authorities was to provide the northern Conservation Authorities with practical tools and examples to help them move forward on adaptation.
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in the Hamilton Conservation Authority Watersheds

As part of the Ontario Regional Adaptation Collaborative and in partnership with the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources held a one-day workshop in Hamilton to help the Hamilton Conservation Authority, the City of Hamilton and local environmental groups address the challenges of climate change.

The goals of the workshop were to help participants learn about climate change impacts and adaptation; learn about what others are doing to adapt; review the known ways in which climate has changed in the Hamilton Conservation Authority Watersheds and understand how that has impacted natural, built and human systems; review selected projections of climate and resulting potential impacts; examine various tools (e.g. Risk Assessment/ Management) available to help communities and watersheds identify and prioritize risks associated with climate change; and discuss the role of the Hamilton Conservation Authorities in climate change adaptation.
Watershed Adaptation in Ontario: Conservation Authority Perspectives - Moving Forward on Adaptation

In collaboration with Conservation Ontario, the OCCIAR held three one-day capacity building workshops (Kingston, London and Hamilton) to help Ontario Conservation Authorities address the challenges associated with climate change and move forward on adaptation. The goals of the workshop were to raise awareness of climate change and its implications to CA business; provide updates on provincial perspectives and initiatives pertaining to climate change adaptation (MOE and MNR); provide an opportunity for CAs to share experiences and initiatives related to adaptation planning and action; and discuss challenges and approaches for incorporating adaptation and mitigation into CA programs.

OCCIAR Case Studies

A Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Lake Simcoe Watershed: The planning process

This case study highlights the steps involved in the adaptive management planning process which was used to inform the development of the Lake Simcoe Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
Climate Change Adaptation in the City of Greater Sudbury

CGS has been engaged in the topic of adaptation to climate change for the past decade. This case study highlights the major initiatives and projects that have occurred over this timeframe. It also provides information about some of the projected impacts that Sudbury will face. All of these pieces contribute to the knowledge and capacity for the City to successfully adapt to climate change.
Hamilton Conservation Authority Climate Change Strategy

Recognizing that the extremes of flooding, drought and wind are expected to increase in intensity in the context of climate change, and seeing the damage to both the natural and built systems in the watershed, the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) decided to start taking action on climate change. This case study highlights their approach.

OCCIAR Factsheets

Other RAC Products

The Ontario Regional Adaptation Collaborative also worked with other partners to address targeted climate change vulnerabilities through several projects to advance decision-making in the areas of extreme weather, risk management, water management, and community development planning. A series of products resulted from this work.