It is important to learn from other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world

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1 5.0 EMERGING PRACTICES FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS To develop an effective Climate Change Strategy for the geographic region of Peel it is important to gain a better understanding of what programs, policies and strategies currently exist in other jurisdictions. Combining jurisdictional climate change examples with an understanding of Peel s climate change impacts will help develop strategies that are geared towards dealing with the impacts of climate change in the Region of Peel. The examples presented in this section are solely devoted to examples of adaptation planning. Examples of adaptation strategies are further divided by case studies: Toronto, London (UK), Leicester (UK), New York and Chicago. Mitigation examples are explored in the Mitigation Strategies Report. It is important to learn from other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world Some of the challenges of climate change planning are outlined in Section 5.2 and a number of key lessons learned about adaptation planning through the jurisdictional review are highlighted in Section Examples of Municipal Adaptation Climate Change Strategies Adaptation Case Studies CASE STUDY: CITY OF TORONTO Climate Change Adaptation Strategy The City of Toronto was selected as a case study due to its geographic proximity to the Region of Peel, similar climate change impacts, and because they have been working on developing climate change strategies for over a decade. The City of Toronto has set a target of 34% for its urban forest canopy, a doubling of its current estimated 17%, and has endorsed $1 million for tree planting and green roof initiatives in order to help mitigate the effects of climate change. 213 However, the Clean Air Partnership has noted that there remains a lack of adequate resources for post-planting tree management and storm recovery. 214 The city s approach to adapting to climate change involved first understanding how the climate is changing and what it means for Toronto. Then they identified what Toronto is already doing and proposed short-term adaptation actions. They used the following approach to develop an adaptation strategy: Create internal mechanisms and processes Engage the public, businesses and other stakeholders Incorporate climate change adaptation into policies Analyze how climate is changing Develop a citywide inventory of climate vulnerabilities Conduct a formal risk assessment to prioritize risks Identify and assess adaptation options Develop and Implement Adaptation Strategies Monitor and measure progress Page 63 of 107

2 The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Staff Report 215 lists the following examples of existing and ongoing programs that help the City of Toronto adapt to climate change: Toronto s Heat Alert system and Hot Weather Response Plan The Wet Weather Flow Master Plan Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program Flood Warning Forecasting The Green Roof Pilot Incentive Program Commitment to Double the Tree Canopy The Deep Lake Water Cooling (Enwave), Peaksaver and Keep Cool Programs (Toronto Hydro) The Green Development Standard Integrated Plant Healthcare (IHPC) Program The Better Buildings Partnership In addition, the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Staff Report identified programs and actions that would help Toronto adapt to the impacts of climate change that could be completed within the following year and within a short-term time frame following the release of the report. Adaptation actions identified for the year following adoption of the strategy are as follows: Engage Toronto s Neighbourhoods and Communities through Live Green Toronto Develop Regional Extreme Precipitation Intensity, Duration and Frequency Curves Review Urban Flooding Issues Conduct Urban Heat Island Research to Inform Land Use Planning Policy Approaches to cooling the City Evaluation of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) Pilot Reduce Stream Erosion and Increase Stream Restoration Complete Flood Warning System Updates Improve Future Climate Change Prediction Capabilities Naturalization of parklands and lands surrounding water and wastewater facilities Increased planning regulations/guidelines to support healthy trees Implementation of new standards for supporting healthy tree growth by continuous soil trench systems in commercial areas Increased street tree planting New winter weather technologies to improve monitoring for snow and freezing rain conditions Green Development Standard: Anticipating impacts of climate change on built form Renewable Energy By-Law Page 64 of 107

3 CASE STUDY: LONDON, ENGLAND Rising to the Challenge - The City of London s Climate Adaptation Strategy While Toronto is a city with similar climate to the Region of Peel, other examples were used due to their forward thinking on climate change, and the thoroughness of their adaptation plans. For example, in the UK, a report to the European Parliament on climate change 216 suggests support for economic incentives and alternative income sources to make standing forests profitable, including: Carbon financing Certification for sustainable timber harvesting Ecotourism Non-timber forest products Payments for Ecosystem Services schemes (PES) with compensation for the carbon stored in forests (carbon finance) considered the most important option. London developed a climate change strategy and identified the actions directly related to their identified climate change risks 217, namely: Managing flood risks o These strategies include actions such as developing a flood recovery plan and a range of incentives to encourage sustainable drainage systems and green roofs. Managing water resources o These strategies include actions like a coordinated and sustained awareness-raising campaign aimed at City businesses, property developers and residents regarding water use and water efficiency; contingency planning with the water utility; and droughtresistant landscaping. Managing heat risks and air pollution o These strategies include actions such as liaising with electricity providers to ensure security of supply for City buildings and infrastructure, taking account of climate impacts on seasonal demands; examining the provision of cool centres (cooled public buildings) during heat waves, with extended opening hours for vulnerable people, and should include them in emergency plans; Managing ground conditions o These items include actions such as design elements to address geo-physical risks taking account of climate change impacts on subsidence (i.e. lower ground level or sinking) and heave over the lifetime of the development. The adaptation options identified were grouped into research and monitoring, and policy and practical actions, which were then categorized under the following criteria: No-regrets measures that deliver benefits that exceed their costs, whatever the extent of climate change. Low-regrets measures are low cost and have potentially large benefits under climate change. Win-win measures contribute to climate adaptation and also deliver other benefits Flexible measures are useful for dealing with uncertainties in the extent of longer-term climate change. 218 Page 65 of 107

4 CASE STUDY: LEICESTER, ENGLAND Leicestershire County Council - Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan Leicester created the LCC Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan 219 in response to the impacts of climate change on their city. Following widespread consultation, with key LCC officers and Senior Managers, to highlight potential risks to Council services from future climate change, the Plan and Adaptation Risk Register were developed. The risks identified were then scored using a risk assessment methodology. The top-5 ranked issues were categorized under 3 effects: Flood Risk Summer Heat Waves and Prolonged Periods of Increased Average Temperatures Water Availability 5 key objectives were then developed to respond to each of the three significant effects which were accompanied by a series of service level actions or responses: Reduce the risk and impact of flooding across the city wide road network Future development of the building environment to be climate proofed Reduce the impact of the Urban heat Island (UHI) Effect Reduce subsidence risk to the council s property portfolio and infrastructure Reduce the risk of damage to private property through subsidence caused or exacerbated by LCC-owned trees CASE STUDY: NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA PlaNYC report on Climate Change While some strategies (i.e. the City of London) are complex and detailed, other examples of municipal climate change strategies are, in comparison, quite streamlined. For example, New York identified three main strategies in their plan for adapting to climate change 220 : Create an intergovernmental Task Force to protect the city s vital infrastructure Work with vulnerable neighbourhoods to develop site-specific strategies Launch a city-wide Strategic Planning process for climate change adaptation As they have not yet developed an adaptation plan, New York City s approach involved having a set of goals for each of the strategies listed above that will allow the City to effectively meet the overall climate change plan. Goals for the Strategic Planning process for climate change adaptation include 221 : Create a Strategic Planning process to adapt to climate change impacts o Develop a risk-based, cost-benefit assessment process to inform investment decisions o Assess possible strategies to protect against flooding and storm surges and provide recommendations Ensure New York s 100-year floodplain maps are updated Document the City s floodplain management strategies to secure discounted flood insurance for New Yorkers Amend the Building Code to address the impacts of climate change Page 66 of 107

5 CASE STUDY: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA Chicago Climate Action Plan The Chicago plan is similar to that of New York City, whereby through a workshop with stakeholders, they identified a small number of climate change adaptation goals that they felt were of the highest priority and compiled a set of objectives and strategies to help fulfill each of the goals. The goals and objectives were listed as 222 : Reduce Vulnerability to Extreme Heat Events Prepare for Extreme Heat Events Manage the Urban Heat Island Effect Increase Ozone Response Activities Reduce Vulnerability to Extreme Precipitation Events Include Climate Change Considerations in Sewer Watershed Studies Conduct a Stormwater Management Study Pilot Distributed Solutions Pilot Stormwater Parks Reduce Vulnerability of Buildings, Infrastructure, and Equipment to Extreme Weather Conditions Manage Power Vulnerability Manage Fleet Vulnerability Include Climate Change Considerations in Plans for New Development and Renovation Reduce Vulnerability to Future Ecosystem Degradation Participate in Preserving Native Species Participate in Creating a New Recommended Plant List Enhance Chicago s Urban Forest Management Enhance Chicago s Urban Wetland Management Protect Agriculture CASE STUDY: KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, USA Climate Change Preparedness Teams to Develop the King County 2007 Climate Plan King County is often referred to as an example of climate change planning that addressed mitigation and adaptation and took it seriously from governance to an operational perspective. The planning process began in 2005 with the establishment a strike force reporting the King County Executive. The mandate of the group was to review every county business line, operation and capital plan to identify challenges and opportunities and to recommend concrete options for infrastructure and service adaptation. The group included 10 senior representatives from the budget office, water planning, solid waste, air quality, parks, transportation, land-use planning and building codes, economic development, public health and executive services (which includes emergency management). Based on the Climate Action Team s work, each of the departments were asked to develop a single climate change plan to be submitted to the Executive. They then moved into a launch phase with a series of Executive Orders to develop the actual Climate Plan, in partnership, in Page 67 of 107

6 Some of the lessons learned from this planning process include: the importance of having senior, visible champions and credible peers within the organization; including a mix of technical experts and implementers on the team; the benefits of working with other governments to shape policy and share best practices. The plan is available here: The 2009 report on progress is also available: Common Barriers and Challenges Developing a Climate Change Strategy for a region poses various challenges. The list of common barriers and challenges to adaptation planning (below) was derived from an extensive document review as well as perspectives heard at the Stakeholder Workshop held on December 1, Uncertainties about Climate Change Scenarios Developing adaptation strategies that deal with future climate change in Peel, as elsewhere, is a daunting task primarily because of uncertainties around how climate change will impact the physical environment and the lack of climate projections at the regional scale. As well, future changes to the timing and impact of extreme events is still even more uncertain than average annual changes to temperature and precipitation. Many leading jurisdictions have accepted that it is necessary to move forward with climate change adaptation in spite of the current uncertainty, and have developed process by which adaptation strategies can be reviewed and adjusted as new information becomes available. Jurisdictional Authority Another key challenge relates to jurisdictional authority. For example, the City of Toronto noted that they do not have the authority to implement some adaptation actions (for example, in the Building Code) 223. Also, the Peel partners must be aware of the existing policies and guidance documents that are in place for Canada and Ontario and ensure that Peel s strategies are complementary. This needs to be balanced with the needs of the partners and their ability to achieve their goals. As explained in a City of Mississauga Air Quality Local Action Plan, the degree to which municipalities can realistically and effectively become energy efficient and reduce air emissions depends on the priority a municipality places on the achievement of related benefits of cost savings, human health and environmental protection and quality of life. 224 Therefore, a part of ensuring the success of this Strategy involves the partners commitment to accept and commit to the plan. Personal Attitudes and Varying Levels of Awareness During the implementation of the Strategy, the partners may face resistance to certain strategies resulting from non-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) attitudes. For example, waste diversion and the implementation of renewable energy are effective mitigation (and adaptation) measures; however siting energy from waste facilities in other communities has proven difficult due to perceptions about the potential for other environmental impacts from their operations (e.g., odour, noise, vibration, etc.). In addition, a lack of general awareness about climate change and future impacts may be a barrier to the implementation of certain adaptation strategies. Varying levels of awareness may be a factor among the general public and/or decision-makers and/or staff members of the partner organizations. For example, among staff and researchers there may be tendencies to make decisions about buildings or infrastructure based on historical weather conditions rather than factoring in future climate projections. Page 68 of 107

7 Lack of Resources The implementation of the Strategy will require financial and human resources. Other communities have developed step-wise implementation plans that involve short-term and long-term strategies. As one person at the workshop noted, as soon as most of the low hanging fruit solutions have been implemented, significant resources will be required to go to the next step. One cautionary note from municipalities that have developed adaptation plans is focusing too much on the (short-term) costs of adaptation strategies and neglecting to focus on the longer-term impacts of failing to fully implement adaptation strategies. Lack of Leadership and Political Will Many of the groups at the Stakeholder Workshop noted that strong political will and leadership may be key determinants of the success of the Strategy. At times, due to competing priorities (e.g., economic recession), it may be difficult for decision makers to focus attention on climate change planning. Nevertheless, a focus on climate change must continue and efforts to educate and raise awareness of decision makers will be necessary. Identification of Appropriate and Meaningful Measures and Strategies As previously discussed, the identification and implementation of greenhouse gas mitigation measures and adaptation strategies is a challenging process. The rationale used to justify implementation relies on a significant amount of data, which in many cases is derived from layers of assumptions. In addition, other communities have noted that implementation will be challenging given high expectations. In many cases, the implementation of the adaptation strategies will require the collaboration of many departments and/or partners within with local government agency. There may be competing priorities and/or great synergies with existing priorities. Conversely, strategies identified and implemented in silos can have negative impacts on other initiatives and should be examined closely. Data Gaps and Uncertainties with Respect to Natural Heritage All species can tolerate some range of environmental conditions, and all species have some ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions over time. However, tolerance ranges vary greatly among and even within species, and for many species limits are unknown and thus their ability to adapt is also unknown. Scientists have just begun to gain some understanding of the ability of some groups of plants and wildlife to respond to urbanization in the landscape. Adding climate change into this already complex equation makes understanding and anticipating responses even more complicated. The ability of species to adapt is also likely to be compromised by three ecological phenomena that have been associated with climate change in the scientific literature (and discussed further in Appendix D). These are: (1) phenological disjunction (i.e., when the life cycle of one species that depends on another species for its survival is out of sync with its partner species; an example of this is a plant that flowers early in response to a warmer and wetter spring but whose insect pollinators have not hatched earlier than usual), (2) increasing dominance by invasive species (which reduces the ability of native species to move in response to climate change), and (3) crossing ecological thresholds (i.e., when key species in a community cannot adapt to a given change and perish, causing the decline and possible demise of a number of other related species, and potentially the community as a whole). The existing gaps in our understanding of tolerance ranges in plants and wildlife combined with the complex web of parameters to consider makes identifying effective strategies for adapting to climate change extremely challenging with respect to natural heritage. Therefore, any strategies must be implemented with careful monitoring that will assess their effectiveness and allow for adaptive management where required. Page 69 of 107

8 5.3 Emerging Practices in Adaptation Planning from Other Jurisdictions Lessons on climate change adaptation planning and an investigation of practices from other jurisdictions is a crucial component of this report as there is an opportunity to learn from the experience of other communities. As evidenced in Section 5.2, many regions around the world have developed climate change adaptation plans the consultant team is able to draw upon lessons learned during their processes and best practices for programs. In addition to the jurisdictions highlighted above, the review of other communities included adaptation plans from a number of other regions and associations (including Halifax, Staffordshire, California, Fredericton, Guelph, the Netherlands, United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme and the United Nations Development Program). Some global lessons on climate change adaptation planning have been summarized below : It is important to learn from other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world about approaches to regional adaptation planning LESSONS LEARNED Ensure Collaboration Among and Between Sectors The active collaboration of a strong local community of interested researchers and contributors from a multitude of sectors has proven to be important to those regions that have developed climate change plans. In New York City, the process was extremely collaborative: university researchers, consultants, the private sector and utility representatives were involved in the process to develop their adaptation plan. In Peel, many diverse stakeholders have been invited to participate in the planning process and share their unique opinions. In all of the strategies/plans that were reviewed, stakeholders from multiple sectors were involved in the development of the plan and the implementation of the actions. Many of the adaptation strategies were cross-sectoral and integrative in nature. For Peel, there are opportunities to explore collaborative research opportunities with the University of Toronto at Mississauga, York University and Environment Canada. Provide Dedicated Resources Based on a number of case studies, dedicated leadership (human resources) and funding (financial resources) seemed to be clear keys to a successful plan. Cities such as London and New York have provided dedicated staff to the task of developing adaptation programs, and allocated or leveraged funds for technical consultants, research, workshops, website development and other necessary resources and tools. For example, the Department of Environmental Protection in New York City financed a 5-year project to develop adaptation guidelines entirely from its operating budget. 227 Take a Long-Term Perspective Climate is, by definition, long-term; the impacts of a changing climate on communities will therefore also be long-term. When developing adaptation plans, many other leading regions have taken a long-term perspective with staged implementation over the short and long-terms. Many adaptation strategies are preventative in nature and can have high costs. Therefore, when planning for the longer term, decisionmakers need to be made aware of: (1) the need for the strategy (based on vulnerabilities and perceived impacts); (2) the effectiveness of the strategy (i.e., has it been established elsewhere?); (3) the costs; and (4) the governance structure (i.e., who will implement and/or administer the plan). Page 70 of 107

9 Create a Flexible Plan Rooted in the Principle of Adaptive Management Adaptive management is defined as a systematic process for continually improving management policies and practices by learning from the outcomes of operational programs and incorporating new information. 228 Adaptive management is often characterized as learning by doing. Therefore, when considering longer term strategies, successful adaptation strategies also need to be flexible and nimble. The concept is summarized nicely in the Chicago Climate Change Action Plan 229 : The paradox of process planning is the intermixed integration of past, present, and future. We plan for the future, do so in the present, and use data from the past. Specifically, the urban planning process uses historical data to measure the capability of current projects to achieve future goals. To adapt to climate change, municipalities and businesses need to continually incorporate new data and reassess decisions. The successful adaptation to climate change requires a learning organization, one that adapts to changing environmental factors. Focus on Education and Communication One of the lessons learned from other jurisdictions adaptation plans was the importance of communicating climate change impacts and adaptation strategies to the general public as well as within the planning organization itself. Some examples of regular stakeholder communication gleaned from other plans include: use of the media, workshops, websites, updates, visual aides, conferences, etc. The benefits of ongoing education and communication include increased buy-in to the implementation of the plans and increased understanding of adaptation. Illustrate Multiple Benefits and Focus on No Regret Actions Cities and regions that have identified adaptation strategies that have multiple benefits ( win-win actions) seem to have plans that are more widely adopted. Adaptation strategies, by nature, normally have more than one intended consequence: for example, installing green roofs might reduce energy costs, improve aesthetics and reduce water pollution. In addition, restoration activities also aid with species/habitat adaptation. In London, adaptation measures were categorized: No-regrets measures that deliver benefits that exceed their costs, whatever the extent of climate change. Low-regrets measures are low cost and have potentially large benefits under climate change. Win-win measures contribute to climate adaptation and also deliver other benefits Flexible measures are useful for dealing with uncertainties in the extent of longer-term climate change. 230 Consider Sustainable Development Some cities and regions have considered climate change planning in the context of sustainable development and have examined the social/cultural, economic and environmental benefits of action on climate change. For example in Chicago, they have highlighted the co-benefits of climate change adaptation such as jobs, quality of life, improved air quality and health, and reduced energy costs. In a developing nation context, the United Nation Development Program (UNDP) integrates climate change adaptation and sustainable development by (1) Integrating climate change risks into UN programming; (2) Integrating climate change risks into national development policies, plans and strategies; and (3) Identifying financing for adaptation initiatives. Page 71 of 107

10 Instill Climate Change Considerations Across the Organization Many of the adaptation plans mentioned instilling climate change (and/or risk management) thinking into day-to-day decision-making by the partners involved in implementation. Examples of where this is pertinent is in identifying future organizational, operational, equipment, or infrastructure needs involving procuring new goods, services and/or products or building new infrastructure that must function under a new set of climate conditions. One related example is the Region of Peel s sustainability framework that was established through Region Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) 20 that was approved by the Province and is currently under appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board. This framework is to be applied to all Region Official Plan policies (ROP) decisions across the corporation and is embedded the ROP. The Region is currently examining how to create a sustainable development lens for all corporate decisions. Other communities have created climate change checklists to instill risk management thinking into organizations. With respect to best practices in terms of specific programs, policies and initiatives, the literature review revealed that adaptation plans need to be specific to the community, based on a risk management approach and responsive to the perceived priority impacts. Many best practices for specific programs have been documented in Cities in a Climate of Change: Leading Policies and Programs 2008 Municipal Handbook 231. These provide ideas that may be considered during the development of the Climate Change Strategy. Incorporate Natural Heritage and Urban Forest Considerations In terms of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, many of the lessons learned for Peel are found in the effective protection and management of existing natural heritage through watershed scale assessment and planning. Specific measures considered directly related to supporting climate change adaptation include maintaining and improving the total area and connectivity of natural heritage systems in urban and urbanizing areas, and restoration of vegetation along watercourses. Many if not all adaptation measures that benefit natural heritage systems have benefits to human health and quality of life as well. More about specific mitigation best practices are addressed in the companion Mitigation Strategies Report. 5.4 Economics of Climate Change Adaptation at the Regional Level Overview The partners in the development of the Climate Change Strategy have a direct responsibility for actions that contribute to climate change and actions that help prepare communities for the impacts of a changing climate. Municipalities currently have direct or indirect control over approximately 44 per cent of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Canada. In 2006, this represented control over 315 megatonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). A total of 718 Municipal governments, through their own operations and decision-making powers, have a major impact on the pattern of urban and rural development, transportation, economic activity and consumption of energy resources. 232 Municipal governments, through their own operations and decisionmaking powers, have a major impact on the pattern of urban and rural development, transportation, economic activity and consumption of energy resources Page 72 of 107

11 Economists are able to clearly illustrate the economic benefits of investments in emission reduction activities (mitigation) at the community level. For example, the figure below demonstrates that certain investments in GHG reductions have very clear pay-backs. Figure 12 shows a cost abatement curve of potential emission reductions that could be implemented by municipalities over the next decade. The costs provided are estimated average values and individual project costs may vary considerably. Municipalities are key to achieving large and low-cost emission reductions, in partnership with federal and provincial/territorial governments. The total potential of all municipal options to achieve emission reductions relative to a 2006 baseline is estimated at 48 Mt. Each bar in the cost abatement curve represents one group of closely related options that could be implemented in local communities, led by municipalities in partnership with and with support from other orders of government. The height of the bar on the y-axis indicates the average cost of avoiding emission reductions. Negative costs below the horizontal axis indicate a net benefit or savings to the economy over the lifetime of the option. All options were based on a capital discount rate of 10 per cent. The width of the bar represents the total potential amount of CO2e that could be reduced annually if the option was fully implemented. 233 Figure 12. Cost abatement curves of municipal emission reductions (extracted from FCM, 2009) 234 Rationale for Investing in Municipal Adaptive Climate Change Activities and Plans To date, the majority of municipal, provincial and national climate policies and plans have been focused on the (more easily quantifiable) benefits of mitigation activities; however, the partners for the Peel Climate Change Strategy also recognize that adaptation to climate change on a local level is important. Natural Resources Canada confirms this with their finding that it is meaningless to study the consequences of climate change, without considering the ranges of adaptive responses. 235 Many adaptive activities have immediate local benefits, without time lags. However, quantifying the economic benefits of local adaptive activities is challenging because of many uncertainties, including: Page 73 of 107

12 Challenges to evaluate/quantify physical or ecological changes in monetary terms (i.e., biodiversity loss, loss of critical environmental services, etc.); and Difficulty forecasting the expected damage avoided through adaptation investments. In a sense, the gross benefit of adaptation is the difference between climate change-induced damages with and without adaptation. For these reasons, many municipalities choose to implement and invest in no-regret or low-regret activities, because they will result in multiple benefits irrespective of how much the climate changes. No regret refers to options (or measures) that would be justified under all plausible future scenarios, including the absence of manmade climate change. 236 Low-regret adaptation options are those where moderate levels of investment increase the capacity to cope with future climate risks. Typically, these involve over-specifying components in new builds or refurbishment projects. For instance, installing larger diameter drains at the time of construction or refurbishment is likely to be a relatively low-cost option compared to having to increase specification at a later date due to increases in rainfall intensity. 237 Examples from Other Jurisdictions of an Economic Rationale for Investing in Local, Regionally-based Adaptation Initiatives Much of the research available on the economics of adaptive planning is focused at the national and international level. Limited literature exists to inform efforts at the regional and community scale; however, some examples from other jurisdictions may help to inform Peel s understanding of the economic rationale for investments in adaptation planning: As stated, there are significant challenges inherent in a regional level analysis of the economic impacts of climate change and adaptation. 238 In practice, these have been overcome using available models such as Chicago s Oliver Wyman Process for Determining the Municipal Costs of Climate Change which was supported by the Wuebbles-Hayhoe climate impacts research that was already underway at the time. 239 This model enabled the City of Chicago to develop its progressive climate change adaptation strategy. Chicago s findings have also shown that mitigation and adaptation overlap and win-win opportunities emerge when both strategies are implemented together. The City has developed a Climate Action Plan which includes climate change planning processes that can be used by other cities 240 The Regional Municipality of Halifax has developed Climate SMART, an HRM Integrated Strategy for Climate Change Mitigation and Impact & Adaptation Preparedness and Planning - the Climate Sustainable Mitigation and Adaptation Risk Toolkit. The Toolkit which has the capacity to undertake cost-benefit assessments includes a section on reducing vulnerability to climate change and managing risk through adaptation 241 Greater Vancouver s Regional District Stormwater Management Program is an example of ways in which climate change can be integrated into existing or emerging efforts thereby avoiding the need to develop new policies, programs or criteria into regional planning 242 Some national scale research has been conducted on the cost of adaptation vs. no adaptation: The World Bank has developed a model for summing positive and negative costs of climate change adaptation at the national level. 243 As part of the planning process to develop the Climate Change Strategy for the geographic region of Peel, these examples from other jurisdictions will be examined to help the partners prioritize actions to adapt to climate change and identify those no-regret or low-regret actions appropriate for Peel. Page 74 of 107