Using Collaboration to Build Resilience to Climate Change in the Comox Valley
The Comox Valley is experiencing increased emergency events and a wide range of escalating hazards associated with a changing climate. Coastal flooding, erosion, sea level rise, and storm surge are already shaping local planning needs.
To prepare and adapt our communities to these climate risks and events, the CVRD and partners have been working on strengthening our approach to climate resilience by centring relationship-building and Indigenous reconciliation. Leveraging a range of critical funding sources and grants, we’re working to advance climate action priorities which have a range of co-benefits.
Guiding Principals
Through these different projects, a series of guiding principles have emerged and been articulated to strengthen our approach on existing and future projects:
- Partner early and often: co-develop projects with K’ómoks First Nation, rights-holders, partner organizations and other governments through meaningful partnerships;
- Work with nature: prioritize nature-based solutions where possible to strengthen ecosystem health while reducing climate risks;
- Create multiple benefits: projects are designed to achieve more than one outcome/objective, working towards climate resilience, ecological/habitat restoration, cultural values, community wellbeing, and recreation;
- Build organizational capacity: each project has built on the lessons of previous work and projects, strengthening internal capacity and relationships, creating better tools, processes and partnerships for future initiatives;
- Think long term: each project/initiative contributes to broader regional approach to reliance.
Case Studies:
