Managing Climate Risks

Climate change is putting the safety, health, and prosperity of communities across B.C. at risk. Wildfires, floods, and extreme heat are driving up costs, straining essential services, and disrupting everyday life. PICS supports governments and communities with clear, evidence-based analysis of emerging risks and practical options to reduce impacts and safeguard our shared future.

Featured Research

Reports

Vital Connections: Linear Critical Infrastructure and Climate Risk in B.C.

B.C.’s infrastructure systems aren’t ready for the risks ahead — but there are practical ways governments and operators can build climate resilience.

Videos

Vital Connections: Critical Infrastructure and Climate Risk

B.C.’s critical infrastructure faces growing risks from extreme weather. This video explores how climate threats make systems fail — and the path to resilience.

a honeycomb style collage on a dark navy blue background, the honeycomb images are stacked in a line. The first image on the left is of the front of an ambulance, the next image is of a young boy pouring water over his head in the sun, the middle image is of an orange sky with a bright sun and some clouds, the next image is of a worker kneeling beside some solar panels with his hand on his head in the summer heat, the last image is of an emergency room entrance.

Explainers

Turning down the heat: How to better protect your community in extremely hot weather

Up-to-date advice for B.C. decision makers to protect communities from extreme heat, with key risks, impacts, and preparedness actions.

Explainers

From ember to inferno: Wildfires in B.C. explained

How can communities, Nations, governments and others work together to reduce wildfire risk and build resilient communities?

Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver during an episode of winter flooding. There are sandbags in the foreground, topped with snow. In mid-ground, the park grass is covered with a layer of water. The sea is beyond.

Explainers

Gimme shelter: Upzoning for climate risks

Governments are encouraging increased housing density around transit hubs in B.C. But how can planners account for climate risk in some of these high-density areas?

Explainers

A tool for tough decisions: rethinking climate change risk assessments

As climate impacts increase, how can governments better identify, assess, and prioritize risks?

Reports

Bridging climate research and risk assessments: A research and knowledge mobilization agenda

The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions spent a year working with top researchers and practitioners across the province to outline how research and evidence can better inform risk assessments. Our work is detailed in this report.

Reports

A Pivotal Moment for B.C. Climate Action

British Columbia stands at a crossroads for climate action. This overview paper sets the stage for the CleanBC Insights Series, outlining why renewing the province’s flagship climate plan is about more than cutting emissions.

Reports

Sustainable and Affordable Housing: Strategies, innovations, and policy directions

B.C.’s housing boom presents a once-in-a-generation chance to align affordability with climate resilience. This paper outlines how new homes can be designed to be low-carbon, hazard-safe, and future-ready, ensuring today’s construction supports both families and the province’s climate goals.

More resources on managing climate risks

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions