ABSTRACT
This study investigates the factors that constrain and enable adaptation planning for increasing flood risk in Canada. It uses a multiple-methods, multi-scalar approach to identify interconnected barriers and drivers that operate across municipal, provincial, and federal levels of government in Vancouver and Surrey, British Columbia. Through a policy content analysis (n = 54) and in-depth interviews with planners and other practitioners (n = 31), the study finds five major barriers to the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation: inadequate collaboration, absence of senior level political leadership, lack of public awareness, insufficient financial and staff capacity, and misalignment of policies within and between levels of government.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the study participants for generously sharing their time and expertise. Editor Jill Grant and the anonymous reviewers provided insightful, constructive comments that helped improve the manuscript.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Funding
Notes on contributors
Greg Oulahen
Greg Oulahen is assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Ryerson University where he studies hazards, risk, vulnerability, and climate change adaptation.
Yaheli Klein
Yaheli Klein was the senior researcher for ACT (the Adaptation to Climate Change Team) at Simon Fraser University and is currently a policy analyst for the provincial government of British Columbia.
Linda Mortsch
Linda Mortsch has an adjunct appointment in the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment. She undertakes research to understand climate change impacts, vulnerability and resilience in water resources, coastal zones and urban areas and collaborates with stakeholders to facilitate adaptation planning and implementation.
Erin O’Connell
Erin O’Connell is a lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo. Her research focuses on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
Deborah Harford
Deborah Harford is the co-founder and executive director of ACT (the Adaptation to Climate Change Team) at SFU. Deborah is a contributor to a wide variety of climate change adaptation research initiatives, committees, networks and organizations, including Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Expert Panel on Adaptation and Resilience Results.