ICLR releases new book 'Cities adapt to extreme heat: Celebrating local leadership'

TORONTO, Dec. 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Local governments are taking action now to address the increasing risk to Canadians from extreme heat events that will only become more common and severe in the years ahead as a result of a warming climate. Cities adapt to extreme heat: Celebrating local leadership profiles 20 of the many successful local projects underway or already completed in communities across the country that are adapting to better address the risks associated with extreme heat.

The 20 communities profiled in the book include:

Winnipeg, MB
Hamilton, ON
Gatineau, QC
Leduc, AB
Vancouver, BC
Middlesex-London, ON
Fredericton, NB
Sherbrooke, QC
Ottawa, ON
Montreal, QC
Kingston, ON
Toronto, ON
Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, QC
Oxford County, ON
Sudbury, ON
Melita, MB
Peel Region, ON
Windsor, ON
Surrey, BC
City of North Vancouver, BC

Seven experts from the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) and Health Canada authored the report, which contains mini case studies that showcase successful local actions that can and should be used by communities across the country to confront the challenge of extreme heat events.

The 20 cases were chosen because they are innovative, and, in the opinion of the authors, could inform efforts in communities across the country. Some of the actions profiled in the book include issuing targeted warnings; opening cooling centres in public facilities such as libraries, community centres and public pools; providing water for those in need; educating the public; planting trees and other actions to cool urban environments and reduce urban heat islands.

Says Paul Kovacs, Executive Director of ICLR and one of the report authors: "Over the next 25 years, it is likely that many, and perhaps most Canadians will experience high temperatures dangerous to their health. Fortunately, efforts are underway to address the health risks of extreme heat in a number of communities across the country. Public health officials as well as city and regional governments are adapting to prepare for changes in the climate and developing strategies to protect people's health during extreme heat events. In Cities adapt, we celebrate these actions with the hopes that other communities in Canada and elsewhere, learn from them and use them to design programs of their own."

Cities adapt to extreme heat: Celebrating local leadership can be downloaded for free in its entirety at www.iclr.org

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Established in 1998 by Canada's property and casualty insurers, ICLR is an independent, not-for-profit research institute based in Toronto and at the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada. ICLR is a centre of excellence for disaster loss prevention research and education. ICLR's research staff is internationally recognized for pioneering work in a number of fields including wind and seismic engineering, atmospheric sciences, water resources engineering and economics. Multi-disciplined research is a foundation for ICLR's work to build communities more resilient to disasters.

SOURCE Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction

For further information: Media contact: Glenn McGillivray, Managing Director, ICLR, tel. [phone], ext. 3216, cell 416-277-5827, [e-mail]

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