On November 4, the Province released its British Columbia Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment (DCRRA) report. The report assesses how communities across BC may be impacted by six hazards: riverine flooding, coastal flooding, extreme heat, wildfire, drought and water scarcity, and earthquakes. It also examines how these hazards may change with climate impacts, and how they may affect natural and built environments, the economy, governance and health.
The assessment notes that many hazards familiar to British Columbians, such as extreme heat, drought, wildfire, and flooding, are becoming more frequent and severe. The DCRRA highlights that certain groups such as Indigenous peoples, low-income households and newcomers may face elevated risks from these hazards due to systemic inequities. It also emphasizes that diverse perspectives – including Indigenous knowledge, local experience, and scientific expertise – strengthen risk management and resilience efforts.
To accompany the assessment, the Province also published a new Hazard Insights Tool. This web-based geospatial tool maps exposure to these hazards and provides information on potential impacts on infrastructure, people, the economy and the environment. Designed for provincial and regional-scale analysis rather than community or property-level decisions, the tool is intended to support emergency managers, planners, and technical professionals in identifying relevant hazards for further assessment. The tool is now live on the Province’s ClimateReadyBC platform, which the Province intends to update with additional disaster risk planning and mitigation tools and information resources over the coming months.
The UBCM membership has previously called for increased funding and support for climate adaptation measures commensurate with the risks faced by local governments, and for more support to integrate climate risk and vulnerability assessments into Official Community Plans (2023-EB31, 2022-NR4).
The 2020 Special Committee on Climate Action (SCCA) also recommended that UBCM work with the Province to ensure that all local governments have the tools and resources to adopt risk assessments and associated long-term capital plans by 2030. SCCA also recommended working with the Province to ensure that regional assessments are completed.
The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness had planned to follow DCRRA with a series of regional risk and resilience assessments, it has now decided to not to pursue this second phase. Instead, the Ministry has stated that it will direct resources towards developing guidance, tools, and risk information and resources that help local authorities to complete risk assessments, planning and other activities required under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA).
The Province is also considering hosting a webinar for local governments in January 2026 to provide further information on the DCRRA, with details to be shared closer to the date.