Northumberland County has adopted a new Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan designed to help communities prepare for the growing impacts of climate change.
Approved by county council, the plan is the second phase of the county’s Climate Action Strategy and focuses on protecting infrastructure, the economy and the natural environment from risks such as rising temperatures, severe storms, flooding, shoreline erosion and drought.
County Sustainability Officer Rachel Barton says Canada’s average land temperature has risen by about two degrees Celsius since the mid-20th century, increasing the risk of more frequent and severe weather events. She says the new plan is intended to help the county respond proactively while protecting public safety and maintaining reliable infrastructure.
The strategy builds on the county’s earlier Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan, which focused on reducing emissions from county operations. This latest phase shifts attention to helping the broader community adapt to changing climate conditions.
Among the first priorities are creating a climate adaptation information hub, establishing an inter-municipal working group to coordinate planning, and providing educational resources to help residents reduce climate-related risks around their homes and properties.
The plan was developed through public consultation and with guidance from a 21-member Adaptation and Resiliency Group representing organizations from across Northumberland. The county also partnered with ICLEI Canada, an organization that supports municipalities in developing climate resilience strategies.
The project received nearly $77,000 in funding through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation program, supported by the Government of Canada.
The full Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan is available at Northumberland.ca/ClimateAction.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
