New Pathways and Adaptation Training for Canadian Planners

In 2021, the Climate Risk Institute developed and delivered training for planning professionals in Ontario and the Prairie Region to enhance their capacity to consider the impacts of climate change in their professional practice. Planning is a diverse profession with planners working in the public, private and non-government spaces at different levels of government and with different specializations in areas like urban design, transportation, and environmental planning. However, a recent survey showed that only 15% of planners feel they have access to the necessary tools and information to incorporate climate change into their work even though a variety of these resources exist. The training materials developed through this project address the competencies required of professionals to understand recent science on climate change and integrate climate change impacts and adaptation into planning contexts. It has enabled hundreds of professionals to access professional development training and acquire skills necessary to support climate-resilient communities. The Climate Risk Institute (CRI) also developed the Adaptation Resource Pathway for Planners (ARPP), an interactive document that helps planners identify resources to increase their knowledge and understanding of climate change adaptation and to help support adaptation action. This project was supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise (BRACE) Program.

Understanding and Assessing Impacts

In 2018, the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) released a policy on climate change planning with the goal of creating a future where communities are planned, designed, developed, and managed to contribute to climate stability and to be more resilient in the face of unavoidable changes in the climate. In 2019, they undertook a benchmarking survey of planners across Canada that covered broad themes around climate change awareness, the availability of climate information and tools and the barriers to incorporating climate change into planning work. Survey results showed that only about 15% of planners feel they have access to the necessary tools and information to incorporate climate change into their work even though a variety of information sources and tools exist. The survey concluded that training on using climate change tools and datasets would help increase the professions’ understanding and confidence. To address these gaps, this project aimed to improve coordination among funders, developers, and organizations focused on adaptation and/or planning for training content in Ontario and the prairies. Furthermore, an easy-to-use tool was needed to support professional planners’ entry into, navigation of, and progression through available resources and training offerings.

For additional climate information, look at the Resources section of this example (below).

Identifying Actions

The project aimed to enhance the capacity of professional planners to consider the impacts of climate change in their professional practice through the development and delivery of online courses, and the development of resources. CRI designed and distributed a needs assessment and survey to planners in Ontario. Over 80 responses were collected and most both indirectly and directly expressed their interest in increasing their awareness of climate change and improving their skills in that area.

In support of these findings, CRI, in partnership with other contributors and partners, developed climate change adaptation and resilience training for planners in Ontario and the Prairie Region and created an interactive resource specifically geared towards helping planners navigate climate change adaptation resources. CRI took a collaborative approach to course and curriculum development, striving to build a diverse roster of instructors with expertise and experience to develop and deliver training. Course review committees were created to bring unique insights and industry experience to course learning objectives. Partners involved in course development and delivery of the training, included experts and leaders in climate, risk, adaptation and planning from CRI, Dillon Consulting Limited (for Ontario) and All One Sky Foundation and Wallace Insights (for the Prairie Region). The course review committees led the identification of case studies, outreach with local and regional stakeholders, support for refining and tailoring training content, and collaboration in delivering pilot training sessions in the region (virtually and/or in-person). Following the online workshops with the advisory committees, substantive improvements were made to module flow and content for each course. In February 2021, a ‘pre-pilot’ course was delivered to graduate and post-graduate Planning students from multiple accredited Ontario universities. These students participated in six consecutive half-day training sessions of the Ontario training, providing qualitative and quantitative feedback after each module.

Implementation

Built around a series of modules and case studies, the training programs are intended to support Ontario and Prairie Region planners in (i) building their understanding of the most recent science on climate change, (ii) providing methods to integrate climate change impacts and adaptation into planning contexts and processes, and (iii) accelerating the uptake of adaptation broadly within the profession.

CRI also developed an Adaptation Resource Pathway for Planners (ARPP) in Canada with support from the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP). The ARPP is an interactive document that helps Planners identify resources to increase their knowledge and understanding of climate change adaptation and to help support adaptation action. The easy-to-use tool supports planners’ entry into, navigation of, and progression through available reports, videos, guides, networks, and training opportunities related to climate change adaptation and planning. The resource was created with guidance from Natural Resources Canada and a volunteer committee with a wide range of expertise in climate change and planning.

Outcomes and Monitoring Progress

This project has enabled hundreds of planners, and other professionals to access training and acquire skills necessary to support climate-resilient communities. National and regional professionals’ associations have increased their awareness of and promoted their training to their members. This work continues to build the capacity of professionals to incorporate climate change adaptation into practice by providing key examples and adaptation planning resources. It facilitates the sharing and exchanging of knowledge, tools, and resources on climate change risks and adaptation related to the planning profession. Sharing insights and ensuring transparency during content development and setting the course’s desired learning outcomes have been critical to the program’s success.

Next Steps

CRI continues to deliver this training with the support of key partner organizations and is working towards providing training programs in French as well. They continue to invest in course updates and actively plan ongoing collaborations with national and provincial regulators and professional associations.

Resources

Link to Full Case Study

Additional Resources:

Additional Climate Information:

Using climate change projections enables better adaptation decisions. To learn how to choose, access, and understand climate data, visit ClimateData.ca’s Learning Zone.  

Visit ClimateData.ca and click “Explore by Variable” for future climate projections related to temperature and precipitation, which can be used to inform adaptation planning.