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B.C. government announces $23.4 million in climate adaptation funding

File photo of flooding in Abbotsford.
File photo of flooding in Abbotsford.

The B.C. government is setting aside $23.4 million in funding for 49 communities to adapt and prepare for climate-related disasters.

Bowinn Ma, minister of emergency management and climate readiness, and Kelli Paddon, MLA for Chilliwack-Kent, made the announcement at a news conference in Chilliwack Friday.

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“We must continue to learn from past emergencies, build our capacity to prepare for and mitigate the risk of future emergencies,” said Ma.

“The climate crisis will continue to increase the risk of natural disasters in British Columbia over the years ahead. Local governments and First Nations are important partners in ensuring that communities are prepared for what will come and we’re taking action to support them in this critical work.”

Paddon said the money will go to 49 First Nations and local governments in B.C. to help them respond to climate-related emergencies, such as floods and extreme temperatures.

Some of the funding will go towards designing upgrades to the Chilliwack Creek drainage pump station, a climate and disaster risk assessment for the T’lat’lasik’wala First Nation, dike breach modelling in Squamish, and misting stations in Victoria that will keep people cool during extreme heat waves, said Paddon.

The money may also be set aside for land-use planning, such as amendments to relevant plans, bylaws or policies, and purchasing equipment, such as monitoring equipment, and community education.