spcommonAlt
Close
Close
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.
Skip to Content
Prince George Logo
Main menu icon
​Home ​ ​ About ​ Contact Us Feedback
  • How Do I
    • Access Open Data
    • Apply for Jobs
    • Bid on City Work
    • Book a Park or Facility
    • Buy or Lease City Property
    • Claim the Home Owner Grant
    • Contact Mayor and Council
    • Dispute a Ticket
    • Find Hours of Operation
    • Find Off-street Parking
    • Find Recreation Programs
    • Inquire on a City Property
    • Make a Claim Against the City
    • Pay for a Parking Ticket
    • Pay My Property Taxes
    • Pay My Utilities
    • Report a Problem
    • Search for a Cemetery Plot
    • Start a Business
    • View City Maps
    • Watch a Council Meeting
  • Apply, Register, and Pay
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Bidding Opportunities
    • Business Licences
    • Careers
    • Committees and Boards
    • Dog Licence
    • Equipment for Hire
    • Find Off-Street Parking
    • Garbage Collection Assistance
    • Gifts and Legacies
    • Graffiti Removal Program
    • Grants and Financial Assistance
    • Home Owner Grant
    • Incentive Programs
    • Leisure Access Program
    • Parking
    • Parks, Sports Fields, and School Bookings
    • Permits And Applications
    • Recreation Programs
    • Taxes
    • Utilities Billing
  • City Services
    • Accessibility
    • Animal Control Services
    • Bylaw Enforcement
    • Cemeteries
    • cityofpg Mobile App
    • Emergency Response and Safety
    • Environment
    • Equipment for Hire
    • Garbage Collection
    • Grants and Financial Assistance
    • Hours of Operation
    • Infrastructure
    • Maps
    • MyCityofPG
    • Parking
    • Permits and Applications
    • Roads and Transportation
    • Service Requests
    • Social Health and Well Being
    • Sustainability
    • Taxes and Utilities Billing
    • Utilities
  • Business and Development
    • Bidding Opportunities
    • Building Permits
    • Business Directory
    • Business Licences
    • Downtown Area
    • Economic Development
    • Heritage Properties
    • Housing
    • Planning and Development
    • Real Estate
    Image Economic Development
    Economic Development
    Interested in doing business in Prince George? Learn more about economic development in PG
  • Things to Do
    • Accessibility
    • Aquatics
    • Arenas and Skating
    • Arts and Culture
    • Book a Park or Facility
    • City Events Calendar
    • CN Centre
    • Facilities and Hours of Operation
    • Get Involved
    • Heritage
    • Learn About Prince George
    • Leisure Access Program
    • Libraries
    • Maps
    • Parks Trails and Sports Fields
    • Prince George Conference and Civic Centre
    • Recreation and Activities
    • Seniors Activities
    Image Recreation
    Recreation
    Learn more about recreation in Prince George
  • City Hall
    • Alternative Approval Process
    • Annual Report and Corporate Plan
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Bylaws
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Departments
    • Elections
    • Finance
    • Gifts and Legacies
    • Grants and Financial Assistance
    • Information Requests
    • Mayor and Council
    • News and Notices
    • Open Data
    • Privacy and Terms of Use
    • Referendum
    • Reports, Publications, and Plans
    • Students
    • Taxes and Utilities Billing
    Image 2020 Annual Report
    2020 Annual Report
    Priorities, finances, and workplans

Climate Change Adaptation

subnav icon More
Home/City Services/Environment/Climate Action/Climate Change Adaptation/
Decrease Text Size Default Text Size Increase Text Size
Print Link
Share Link
  • Environment
    • Air Quality
    • Climate Action
      • Climate Change Adaptation
      • Climate Change Mitigation
    • Invasive Plants
    • Mosquitoes and Pest Control
    • Trees and the Urban Forest
    • Water and Watersheds
    • Water Conservation
    • Weed Control
  • Accessibility
  • Animal Control Services
  • Bylaw Enforcement
  • Cemeteries
  • cityofpg Mobile App
  • Emergency Response and Safety
  • Equipment for Hire
  • Garbage Collection
  • Grants and Financial Assistance
  • Hours of Operation
  • Infrastructure
  • Maps
  • MyCityofPG
  • Parking
  • Permits and Applications
  • Roads and Transportation
  • Search
  • Service Requests
  • Social Health and Well Being
  • Sustainability
  • Taxes and Utilities Billing
  • Utilities

More in this Section...

Quick Links

  • Cemeteries
  • Fire Prevention
  • Garbage Collection
  • Maps
  • Open Data
  • Submit a Service Request

Contacts

Email Us

Phone: 311
Fax: 250-561-7724

City of Prince George
1100 Patricia Blvd.
Prince George, British Columbia
V2L 3V9

Page Image

Page Content


Climate Change Adaptation

Adapting to climate change involves preparing a community to handle its effects. It means making Prince George resilient to further, unexpected events in the coming decades.

Average temperatures in Prince George have increased in the past 90 years. Annual average temperatures are expected to go up by 1.9 to 3.7 degrees Celsius by 2050 and bring warmer winters and long, dry summers. Prince George is already experiencing the impacts of climate change in the form of more intense wildfire seasons, forest pest infestations, and less snow in the winter.


TitleUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
  
Contents
OrderUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
  
PageUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
  
Page:TitleUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
  
Page:IDUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
  
Tab GroupUse SHIFT+ENTER to open the menu (new window).
  
Strategy
  

Community Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

Prince George is taking actions to address changes in forests in both its municipal parks and the natural areas within and surrounding the city. A recent flood risk assessment incorporated future climate projections and recommended adjustments to account for climate change and the mountain pine beetle.  There is ongoing research on how to better design and maintain roads in changing conditions.

Current projects include:

  • Examining climate change and local sensitive ecosystems.
  • Analysing freeze-thaw cycles and precipitation events.

Future projects may include:

  • Exploring how the City can take advantage of the agricultural opportunities associated with a longer growing season
  • Determining how to manage storm-water for changing conditions.
  • Determining how to concurrently adapt to and mitigate climate change.


Top Priorities

Impact AreaVulnerabilities
ForestsIncreased forest fires and insect outbreaks.
FloodingProperty damage with more frequent floods.


High Priorities

Impact Area Vulnerabilities
Transportation infrastructureMore potholes with increased freeze-thaw events.
Severe weather/Emergency responseMaintenance of transportation infrastructure during severe weather events.
Water supplyWater shortages as a result of drought.


Medium Priorities

Impact Area Vulnerabilities
Slope stabilityThreat of erosion and landslides.
StormwaterThreat of overflowing systems during storm events.
Building and utilitiesImpacts of higher temperature on building materials and structural stability.


Other Priorities

Impact Area Vulnerabilities
HealthIncreased heatwaves threatening vulnerable populations.
AgricultureIncreased agriculture opportunities in the region.
New residents and businessPopulation growth as a result of 'climate refugees' migrating north.


For more information:

  • Download Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for the Community of Prince George (2020) [PDF]
  • Download Climate Change in Prince George 2009 - Summary of Past Trends and Future Projections [PDF]
  • Download Adapting to Climate Change in Prince George (2009) [PDF]
  • Watch a video on the Prince George Adaptation Process Summary [VIDEO]
1Climate Change AdaptationClimate Change Adaptation3231
Implementation
  

Implementing Climate Change Adaptation in Prince George

The Adaptation Strategy was incorporated into the Official Community Plan through funding provided by Natural Resources Canada.

  • Download the Implementing Climate Change Adaptation in Prince George Executive Summary (2012) [PDF]

The funding also provided for research on local impacts and adaptation strategies.


Forests

The City is taking many actions to mitigate fire risk locally and prevent urban-wildland fires. Local staff are already considering the tree species that should be planted in parks to prepare for changes and to make the City more resilient to pest outbreaks.

  • Download the Forests Report (2012) [PDF]
  • Download the Forests Executive Summary (2012) [PDF]
  • Watch the video on Forests


Flooding

In 2009, Prince George underwent a detailed flood risk analysis to help prepare for spring floods on the Fraser River and ice jam events along the Nechako. The City had climate change projections incorporated into the assessment and the final recommendation was to include an extra 0.6 m of freeboard allowance (i.e. vertical distance above the flood plain) to account for future changes related to climate change and the mountain pine beetle.

  • Download the Flooding Report (2012) [PDF]
  • Download the Flooding Executive Summary (2012) [PDF]
  • Watch the video on Flooding


Transportation

Prince George has partnered with experts from the University of Waterloo to investigate how to design and maintain roads to better prepare for climate change. Ongoing work includes an assessment of how climate change affects road safety, road conditions, and vehicle crashes.

  • Download the Transportation Report (2012) [PDF]
  • Download the Transportation Executive Summary (2012) [PDF]
  • Watch the video on Transportation


Sensitive Ecosystems

Prince George initiated a sensitive ecosystems and Natural Areas Mapping project in 2010 and decided to incorporate an extra element investigating how climate change affects natural areas within the City. The exercise identifies areas that are sensitive to future changes and can help the City decide where to conserve natural spaces and where to develop.

  • Download the Sensitive Ecosystems Report (2012) [PDF]
  • Watch the video on Sensitive Ecosystems


Freeze-Thaw and Precipitation

The City hired consultants to look at how freeze-thaw cycles are changing and also how the intensity, duration, and frequency of precipitation events are shifting.

  • Download the Freeze-Thaw and Precipitation Report (2012) [PDF]
  • Download the Freeze-Thaw and Precipitation Executive Summary (2012) [PDF]
2Climate Change AdaptationClimate Change Adaptation3231
Natural Areas Mapping
  

Natural Areas Mapping

The City of Prince George is often referred to as the "City in the Forest" because of the abundance of trees and forested areas within and around the municipal boundary.  These extensive forests and natural areas - including wetlands, riparian areas, grasslands, parks, and greenbelts - provide many benefits like recreation, aesthetic values, helping with air and water quality, and many important ecosystem and habitat functions.

It is important to understand natural areas in relation to long-term growth and development in order to make good decisions on land use.  This is particularly crucial where "sensitive" or "rare" ecosystems are identified and where climate change may affect certain ecosystems more than others.  Natural areas mapping helps with making informed choices on long-term planning (e.g. Official Community Planning), watershed planning, wildfire hazard mitigation, neighbourhood planning and building strategies to address climate change.

The Natural Areas project was initiated in 2010 and was completed in four phases:

  1. Mapping natural areas using standardized Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) and Sensitive Ecosystem Mapping (SEI).
  2. Assessing climate change impacts on natural areas.
  3. Simplifying ecosystem mapping for general use and uploading to PGMap.
  4. Developing management strategies and best management practices.

For more information:

  • Download the Natural Areas and Effects of Climate Change Report (Undated) [PDF]

Several maps were created to indicate the impacts of climate change on sensitive ecosystems, soil moisture, and local trees species. For more information, contact:


Energy, Environment, and Sustainability Division
3990 18th Avenue
Prince George, BC V2N 4R8
Canada

Email: env.servicesassistant@princegeorge.ca

3Climate Change AdaptationClimate Change Adaptation3231
Wildfire Protection
  

Wildfire Protection

Climate change has a major impact on how long wildfire seasons last. Seasons extended in length by 19 per cent between 1979 and 2013. Hot, dry summers and earlier springs cause vegetation to grow and dry sooner over a longer period of time.

Climate change models project the mean annual temperature will increase by 3.7 degrees Celsius by the 2080s. This will result in more days where daily temperatures will exceed 30 degrees Celsius and lower precipitation in summer months, all of which are expected to increase wildfire risk.

Prince George's climate change adaption plans include mitigating forest fire risk within the city. The City recently adopted an updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan to make Prince George more resilient to wildfire threats.

For more information:

  • Learn more about Wildfires and Emergency Response
4Climate Change AdaptationClimate Change Adaptation3231
Compliance Details
javascript:commonShowModalDialog('{SiteUrl}'+ '/_layouts/15/itemexpiration.aspx' +'?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}', 'center:1;dialogHeight:500px;dialogWidth:500px;resizable:yes;status:no;location:no;menubar:no;help:no', function GotoPageAfterClose(pageid){if(pageid == 'hold') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+ '/_layouts/15/hold.aspx' +'?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'audit') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+ '/_layouts/15/Reporting.aspx' +'?Category=Auditing&backtype=item&ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;} if(pageid == 'config') {STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('{SiteUrl}'))+ '/_layouts/15/expirationconfig.aspx' +'?ID={ItemId}&List={ListId}'); return false;}}, null);
0x0
0x1
ContentType
0x01
898
Document Set Version History
/_layouts/15/images/versions.gif?rev=23
javascript:SP.UI.ModalDialog.ShowPopupDialog('{SiteUrl}'+ '/_layouts/15/DocSetVersions.aspx' + '?List={ListId}&ID={ItemId}')
0x0
0x0
ContentType
0x0120D520
330
Send To other location
/_layouts/15/images/sendOtherLoc.gif?rev=23
javascript:GoToPage('{SiteUrl}' + '/_layouts/15/docsetsend.aspx' + '?List={ListId}&ID={ItemId}')
0x0
0x0
ContentType
0x0120D520
350


Click to open Facebook Click to open Twitter Click to open YouTube Click to open Linkedin Click to open Instagram
#cityofpg
  • Apply, Register, and Pay
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Bidding Opportunities
    • Business Licences
    • Careers
    • Committees and Boards
    • Dog Licence
    • Equipment for Hire
    • Find Off-Street Parking
    • Garbage Collection Assistance
    • Gifts and Legacies
    • Graffiti Removal Program
    • View All...
  • City Services
    • Accessibility
    • Animal Control Services
    • Bylaw Enforcement
    • Cemeteries
    • cityofpg Mobile App
    • Emergency Response and Safety
    • Environment
    • Equipment for Hire
    • Garbage Collection
    • Grants and Financial Assistance
    • Hours of Operation
    • View All...
  • Business and Development
    • Bidding Opportunities
    • Building Permits
    • Business Directory
    • Business Licences
    • Downtown Area
    • Economic Development
    • Heritage Properties
    • Housing
    • Planning and Development
    • Real Estate
  • Things to Do
    • Accessibility
    • Aquatics
    • Arenas and Skating
    • Arts and Culture
    • Book a Park or Facility
    • City Events Calendar
    • CN Centre
    • Facilities and Hours of Operation
    • Get Involved
    • Heritage
    • Learn About Prince George
    • View All...
  • City Hall
    • Alternative Approval Process
    • Annual Report and Corporate Plan
    • Awards and Recognition
    • Bylaws
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Departments
    • Elections
    • Finance
    • Gifts and Legacies
    • Grants and Financial Assistance
    • View All...

© 2017 City of Prince George, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9, Canada, Email: 311@princegeorge.ca,Telephone: 250-561-7600 or 311,Fax: 250-561-7724​

AboutContact UsFeedbackMyCity LoginPrivacyTerms of UseAccessibilityCareersWeather