CWWA Climate Change Workshop Helps Advance Adaptation in Canada

The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association’s Climate Change Committee hosted a National Climate Change Technical Workshop in conjunction with the National Drinking Water conference on October 28th. The workshop, titled "Working Together to Adapt to Climate Change," featured presenters from government agencies, from the private sector, and from academia.

Each presenter brought a unique knowledge base and provided great insight into their experience with adapting to climate change. The workshop addressed a wide range of topics, including:

• Liability
• Cost of Not Acting
• Tools and Techniques for Adaptation
• Examples of Municipal Adaptation, Initiatives and Challenges
• Advocacy needs
• Resource needs
• Impacts on water resources, private property, and human health

Please see the full list of presentations available through CWWA for more information:
http://www.cwwa.ca/DrinkingWaterConference_presentation_e.asp

The workshop not only offered informative presentations, but also interactive brainstorming through both panel discussion and round table exercises. A panel of experts, composed of presenters from the workshop, took the stage in order to address questions and concerns from those attending the workshop. Following the panel, attendees were able to engage in conversation on a more intimate level through a round table exercise, where panellists and delegates would discuss opportunities for collaboration and new initiatives in an informal setting. Some notable topics from these discussions included:

1. Need for education of the population and of elected officials at all levels
2. Possible partnerships for climate change adaptation with CWWA and the following: F.C.M., Engineers Canada, Land Planners, and Environmental Specialists
3. Need for best practices & guidelines: first steps for medium/small municipalities including by-law templates and policies for asset management

The workshop received praise from both those who have attended in the past and from those who were attending for the first time. A large emphasis on discussion and interactive components proved to engage the delegates and panellists, leading to a better understanding of the needs and concerns present within municipalities. Among other things, this information will inform the future initiatives and actions of the Climate Change Committee.

Canadian Water and Wastewater Association