Prince Edward Island is seeking feedback on its provincial climate change adaptation strategy.
The University of Prince Edward Island’s (UPEI) Climate Lab created the Prince Edward Island Climate Change Adaptation Recommendations Draft Report after receiving public feedback this summer. Online feedback on the report can be provided at www.princeedwardisland.ca/adaptation before October 20, and three public engagement sessions are scheduled for October.
“The adaptation strategy is the next step in the development of the Climate Change Action Plan, led by the Climate Change Secretariat,” said Minister of Communities, Land and Environment Minister, Robert Mitchell. “By recognizing how our province is being affected by climate change now, we can decide the best way to move forward and adapt to those effects.”
Government’s Climate Change Secretariat is leading the development of a climate change action plan that will consider the final adaptation recommendations. A total of 86 recommendations were provided for adaptation action by provincial government and stakeholders within the following 10 key sectors:
- water;
- agriculture;
- education and outreach;
- energy;
- fish and aquaculture;
- forestry and biodiversity;
- insurance;
- properties and infrastructure;
- public health and safety; and
- tourism.
“We are delighted with the enthusiasm of the sector stakeholders at the consultation sessions,” said UPEI Climate Lab director, Dr. Adam Fenech. “There was a strong sense of willingness and eagerness to collaborate on making the ecology, society, and economy of Prince Edward Island more resilient to the impacts of climate change.”
In May, Water Canada published a feature story on climate change strategies for the country’s coastal communities. The authors present findings collected since 2004 Natural Resources Canada and ESSA Technologies Ltd.
The public is asked to provide input through a series of public engagement sessions and through online submissions. The three public engagement sessions are:
- Charlottetown – Tuesday, October 17, 5 p.m. at UPEI, Andrew Hall Building (Room 142);
- Summerside – Wednesday, October 18, 7 p.m. at the Summerside Community Church; and
- Montague – Thursday, October 19, 7 p.m. at the Riverhouse Inn.
For more information, please visit www.princeedwardisland.ca/climatechange.
