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AcademyCPDAsset Management

Climate change impacts communities differently, with some facing greater challenges due to socio-economic and resource disparities. At the heart of climate action is an understanding about how to build a municipal’s capacity for equity-informed climate risk and vulnerability assessments of community infrastructure. By focusing on climate risk, energy transitions, and vulnerability through an inclusive lens, we’re not just addressing climate change—we’re advancing climate resilience to create solutions that benefit everyone.

Understanding Equity-Informed Climate Risk & Vulnerability Assessments

This interactive, virtual course aims to provide foundational understanding of climate change risk and vulnerability assessments of community infrastructure through the level of service framework and with a focus on understanding disproportionate climate change impacts on all members of the community.

Participants will be introduced to climate data portals to demonstrate how to collect the right climate data and identify climate trends through using publicly available data to understand the projected climate change impacts municipalities can anticipate. Participants will also be provided with an overview of the key infrastructure systems typically found in a municipality and a review of typical anticipated climate change impacts associated with each of these systems, the mechanisms of these climate impacts, exploration of their disproportionate impacts on different demographics, and potential adaptation measures that could be developed to introduce long-term positive and co-beneficial benefits to community members.

Through examining a case study of a municipal planning document and their own plans, participants will also analyze the extent to which climate change readiness is embedded in their existing processes.

Course Outcomes

  • Identify key infrastructure systems and related assets (e.g., buildings, stormwater management infrastructure).
  • Access and interpret climate data projections.
  • Express why equity considerations are important in developing an effective climate strategy.
  • Identify vulnerable and socio-economically disadvantaged stakeholders within a sample community.
  • Examine your own municipal plans and processes and evaluate the degree of equity-informed climate change readiness.
  • Identify actions towards addressing equity through climate action in a levels of service framework.
  • Express the importance of assessing and prioritizing community needs based on climate risk and service vulnerability.
  • Describe the steps to develop a 2-year roadmap with adaptation strategies that will have a positive and long-term impact on the community.

Who Should Attend

Employees and elected officials of municipalities and utilities/transit/conservation authorities with agreements to deliver municipal services, and delegated Indigenous communities. Cross-functional representation with teams of up to three individuals is encouraged (e.g., engineers, technologists, professional planners, operations, finance, admin, council, etc.).

Course Delivery Format

Two back-to-back half-day interactive sessions delivered in a virtual setting with an instructor facilitating real-time activities and discussions during the sessions.

Instructor

Darla Campbell, P.Eng., CSR-P, FEC

Darla Campbell is the Sustainability and Asset Management lead with Dillon Consulting Limited. With over 30 years of experience, she draws from her previous role with the Ontario Clean Water Agency on operational efficiencies and capital planning. As a sustainability and asset management specialist, Darla brings experience in design and construction of municipal infrastructure, level of service reviews, lifecycle analysis, risk assessment, building condition assessments as well as facilitation of workshops, public meetings, and training.

Cost and Registration

  • Municipality Rate: $125 + HST per person
    • For employees and elected officials of municipalities, utilities/transit/conservation authorities with agreements to deliver municipal services, and delegated Indigenous communities
  • Non-municipality Rate: $165 + HST per person
    • Limited seats

Upcoming Course Dates:

Funded By

This initiative was offered through the Municipal Asset Management Program, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.

For more information and registration details, please contact:

Aarthi Vig

Project Management & Coordination

avig@ospe.on.ca

Asset Management Climate Impact Tools and Resources for Municipalities

The following knowledge product tools were developed through some of OSPE’s previous courses to support municipalities in their asset management journeys:

Knowledge Product Tool # 1:
ACCIST:  Asset Condition and Climate Impact Scoring Tool

What is the ACCIST Tool? The tool is a template for:

  1. Documenting the registry of buildings that includes location, age, condition and performance.
  2. Recording the assessment of climate impacts at the system level, as a result of this documentation.

The tool summarizes the condition information + climate impact in a dashboard overview that helps identify priorities for action.

The ACCIST Tool aligns with Ontario Regulation 588/17 Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure and the principles of ISO55000 (asset management) and ISO31000 (risk).  The course was delivered through on-line training in 2022.  We thank the participants in the course who provided feedback on the draft tool.

Download Items:

Knowledge Product Tool # 2:
Integrating Climate Change Risk Assessment and Adaptation in Asset Management

The Region of Waterloo recognized that critical systems and infrastructure are at risk from climate change impacts; this is especially true for potable water services, systems and infrastructure.  Although these municipal assets have not been directly impacted yet, the potential for climate impact is high – and the consequences could be extreme.  The water services department at the Region of Waterloo has begun to assess and address risks with a collaborative and integrated approach. The municipality followed a three-step process: alignment, assessment, and synthesis. This case study presents how a municipality applied a decision-making framework for integrating climate change risk assessment and adaptation in asset management. 

Download Item:

Asset Management Resource Links:

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