Climate Change Visioning Project

What will South Delta look like 90 years from now?

Thinking about climate change in your neighbourhood and what to do about it? What if you could look into the future to see the effects of global warming on your community and how those impacts might be managed?

Science is helping us do just that. Delta is the first BC community to participate in an innovative visioning project that uses realistic imagery to show us how our community would look under alternative climate futures. Researchers from the University of British Columbia worked with other scientists, local planners, engineers and stakeholders to develop three-dimensional pictures of several locations in South Delta. Different scenarios such as sea level rise, changing land use and changing energy use, were projected out to the year 2100. Then workshops were held to explore residents' reactions to the scenarios and to different response strategies.

These pictures of the future brought home the reality and seriousness of climate change for residents of South Delta. They heightened people's sense of urgency and their support for policy change on adapting to climate risks and reducing Delta's contribution to climate change. As the research continues, Delta Council will be able to use the information to make informed decisions and take proactive steps to address climate change.

For more information, visit www.calp.forestry.ubc.ca or contact Delta's Community Planning & Development Department at (604) 946-3380 or email com-pln-dev@corp.delta.bc.ca.