Best Practices for Consideration of the Effects of Climate Change in Project-Level Assessments

Risk Sciences International (RSI) is pleased to announce in collaboration with the Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR), the public release of “Best Practices for Consideration of the Effects of Climate Change in Project-Level Assessments”.   The Best Practices document is available at RSI, CONTACT US HERE for a copy.

The authoring team on this Best Practices document included climate scientists and professional engineers from RSI’s Climate Group and Health Risk Group, working in partnership with members of OCCIAR and Laurentian University.

Responding to the need for guidance in this emerging area for Project Proponents and Environmental Assessment (EA) practitioners, the Best Practices offer much-needed guidance to meet demands to credibly fulfill the integration of climate change considerations into EA processes.   Completed after a review process in 2017, this resource provides 11 Best Practice Statements in key areas such as:

Scoping considerations: identifying environmental and project components affected by climate change, identifying the level of detail for assessing effects, and examining the effects of climate change on the need or rationale for developing the project.

Assessing Effects: adjusting future baselines for climate change, assessing the effects of the project on the climate, assessing the effects of the climate on the project.

Mitigating Effects (Adaptation): Assessing options to reduce (mitigate) project effects on the climate, and options to reduce climate effects on the project.

Methodologies and Uncertainties: Explaining selection of methods used, and uncertainties and degree of confidence in results.

Follow-Up: Post development monitoring and monitoring planning.

For more information on the Best Practices document, or to respond to your firm’s questions on integrating climate change considerations into your projects, please Contact Us or direct inquiries to Roger Rempel, Director, Climate Group rrempel@risksciences.com