Partnership Case Study
Niagara Adapts: Collaborative Climate Change Adaptation, Planning and Implementation
Niagara Adapts was an innovative 2-year partnership between 7 municipalities in the Niagara Region and Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre that began in 2019 and was led by Dr. Jessica Blythe. The partnership was designed to build innovative climate solution and implement them into municipal climate change adaptation plans to build resilience for future generations. Throughout the partnership, the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre and 7 climate change coordinators and managers met for 8 educational workshops on topics such as climate impacts and risk assessments, vulnerability assessments, interpreting climate research, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and implementing climate change adaptation plans, to name a few. The partnership came to a close in the summer of 2021, but all municipalities now have the tools to implement effective climate adaptation plans that will allow their communities to thrive.
Overview of Niagara Adapts
What circumstances led to the initiation of the initiative?
Canadians are feeling the impact of climate change, and in Niagara is experiencing flooding, heatwaves, and climate extremes. Municipalities have been identified as key players in the fight for climate solutions.
Who is involved?
The Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, Brock University and 7 municipalities in the Niagara Region.
Outcomes of the Partnership
Municipalities worked together to pool resources to engage in a climate adaptation process tailored to the Niagara Region, which included several workshop led and facilitated by researchers at Brock University.