Recent extreme weather events across North America have highlighted the growing vulnerability of cities to climate-induced disasters. In July 2024, Toronto and southern Ontario experienced unprecedented flash floods, causing over CAD 940 million in insurance damages. A month later, Tropical Storm Debbie swept through the U.S. East Coast, leaving significant destruction. Just days ago, Mississauga, Ontario, faced record rainfall, further stressing the need for robust climate resilience strategies.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, the science of attribution has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding the role of climate change. Attribution science doesn’t claim that climate change directly causes these events but can determine if climate change made them more severe or likely to occur. This growing field has significant implications for policy and preparedness, enabling governments and cities to better assess and respond to climate risks.
Cities like New York are already taking steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Coastal protection measures, sustainable urban development practices, and climate risk assessments are just a few examples of how municipalities prepare for a future where extreme weather may become the norm. In Canada, tools like the Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) protocol are helping cities identify and address infrastructure vulnerabilities.
However, the road ahead is long. To truly build climate resilience, cities must integrate these strategies into their long-term urban planning and policy-making processes. The economic and social costs of inaction are too high to ignore. By leveraging the latest scientific research and tools, cities can safeguard their communities and ensure a more sustainable future in a changing climate.
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Sources:
1. Insurance Insider, “This content requires a subscription and cannot be copied & pasted. If you need assistance,” https://www.insuranceinsider.com/article/2dnj8u96we3yjf5mfwvsw/global-insurers/toronto-flooding-in-july-inflicts-c-940mn-insurance-loss-catiq?zephr_sso_ott=r80Ny7
2. State of the Planet, “Attribution Science: Linking Climate Change to Extreme Weather.”https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/10/04/attribution-science-linking-climate-change-to-extreme-weather/
3. Wired, “Climate Change’s Latest Deadly Threat: Lightning Strikes.” https://www.wired.com/story/thunder-lightning-strike-deaths-india/
