June 20, 2022 (Vancouver) – Today, the BC government released its new Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, which includes new investment for improved floodplain mapping, enhanced flood defenses, improved snowpack/water level measurement and prediction, and more funding to improve wildfire resiliency. Overall, the plan allocates $500 million towards improving the province's overall climate resilience.
"Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) commends the government for the release of its Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy and its investments in measures to better understand the increasing climate risks we face and take concrete actions to protect our communities," said Aaron Sutherland, Vice President, Pacific and Western, IBC. "In 2021, British Columbians saw first-hand the increasing impact that extreme weather events can have. More frequent and more intense floods, wildfires, and storms – influenced by our changing climate – are increasingly putting people and property at risk. The financial costs are rising, but so too is the human toll and that's why today's announcement is such an important step and should be a call to action for further improvement moving forward."