Preparing for climate change

Last updated on November 16, 2023

British Columbia is committed to addressing the climate crisis. The B.C. Government’s responsibility to current and future generations as natural resource stewards requires coordinated, province-wide action on climate change adaptation, including the integration of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Natural resource managers in British Columbia can use policy, knowledge, and tools to integrate climate change adaptation into decision-making:

Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy

On June 20, 2022, the Province released B.C.’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy which strengthens our collective capacity to anticipate, prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change.

Learn more about the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy

Ministry of Forests 2021-2025 Climate Strategy

The 2021–2025 Climate Change Strategy (4.7MB) states the goals, objectives and outcomes for climate mitigation and adaptation for the natural, cultural and heritage resources sector in B.C.

Regional extension notes

The regional extension notes below include climate change projections, probable impacts of climate change to ecosystems, and adaptation strategies for natural resource management across the seven regions of British Columbia:

Managing Climate Change Risks
Office of the Auditor General - Managing Climate Change Risks

The Office of the Auditor General released a report in 2018 examining whether the B.C. Government is adequately managing the risks posed by climate change.

Managing Climate Change Risks (PDF, 4.6MB)

A review of 2017 wildfire and freshet
Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in B.C.

In 2018, an independent review of the unprecedented 2017 wildfire and freshet season was released with 108 recommendations.

Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in B.C. (PDF, 1MB)