A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Evaluating rural municipal climate change plans in ontario, Canada
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5628-6736
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0224-9152
Abstract Climate change poses serious risks to rural communities which rely heavily on climate-sensitive resources. Rural communities are also significant contributors to GHG emissions given the prevalence of agriculture and related activities and are therefore expected to develop courses of action that tackle climate change. This includes either formulating a standalone plan that outlines mitigation and adaptation strategies or integrating these priorities into existing plans. The extent to which municipalities fulfill these planning functions, and how well, has been found to vary considerably from one community to another. In this study, we sought to contribute to knowledge about how well rural municipalities are planning for climate change risks. To this end, we systematically evaluated the contents and quality of rural climate change plans in Ontario (Canada). Using a well-established plan quality evaluation framework, we found that rural plans generally contained strong mechanisms for coordination between departments, and most had outlined specific goals concerning climate change action. By contrast, few plans provided a meaningful fact base to support their goals, many lacked specific policies to guide decision-makers in achieving climate goals, and most contained weak provisions for monitoring and evaluation. After drawing out some key themes from the plan quality analysis, the article concludes by pointing to areas of rural climate change planning that require further attention, and by outlining some areas for further study.
Highlights Rural municipal climate change planning is in its infancy in Ontario, Canada. There is an emphasis on climate mitigation over adaptation. There is a lack of meaningful fact base to support climate change goals. Plans lacked specific policies to guide decision-makers in achieving climate goals.
Evaluating rural municipal climate change plans in ontario, Canada
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5628-6736
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0224-9152
Abstract Climate change poses serious risks to rural communities which rely heavily on climate-sensitive resources. Rural communities are also significant contributors to GHG emissions given the prevalence of agriculture and related activities and are therefore expected to develop courses of action that tackle climate change. This includes either formulating a standalone plan that outlines mitigation and adaptation strategies or integrating these priorities into existing plans. The extent to which municipalities fulfill these planning functions, and how well, has been found to vary considerably from one community to another. In this study, we sought to contribute to knowledge about how well rural municipalities are planning for climate change risks. To this end, we systematically evaluated the contents and quality of rural climate change plans in Ontario (Canada). Using a well-established plan quality evaluation framework, we found that rural plans generally contained strong mechanisms for coordination between departments, and most had outlined specific goals concerning climate change action. By contrast, few plans provided a meaningful fact base to support their goals, many lacked specific policies to guide decision-makers in achieving climate goals, and most contained weak provisions for monitoring and evaluation. After drawing out some key themes from the plan quality analysis, the article concludes by pointing to areas of rural climate change planning that require further attention, and by outlining some areas for further study.
Highlights Rural municipal climate change planning is in its infancy in Ontario, Canada. There is an emphasis on climate mitigation over adaptation. There is a lack of meaningful fact base to support climate change goals. Plans lacked specific policies to guide decision-makers in achieving climate goals.
Evaluating rural municipal climate change plans in ontario, Canada
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5628-6736
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0224-9152
Abstract Climate change poses serious risks to rural communities which rely heavily on climate-sensitive resources. Rural communities are also significant contributors to GHG emissions given the prevalence of agriculture and related activities and are therefore expected to develop courses of action that tackle climate change. This includes either formulating a standalone plan that outlines mitigation and adaptation strategies or integrating these priorities into existing plans. The extent to which municipalities fulfill these planning functions, and how well, has been found to vary considerably from one community to another. In this study, we sought to contribute to knowledge about how well rural municipalities are planning for climate change risks. To this end, we systematically evaluated the contents and quality of rural climate change plans in Ontario (Canada). Using a well-established plan quality evaluation framework, we found that rural plans generally contained strong mechanisms for coordination between departments, and most had outlined specific goals concerning climate change action. By contrast, few plans provided a meaningful fact base to support their goals, many lacked specific policies to guide decision-makers in achieving climate goals, and most contained weak provisions for monitoring and evaluation. After drawing out some key themes from the plan quality analysis, the article concludes by pointing to areas of rural climate change planning that require further attention, and by outlining some areas for further study.
Highlights Rural municipal climate change planning is in its infancy in Ontario, Canada. There is an emphasis on climate mitigation over adaptation. There is a lack of meaningful fact base to support climate change goals. Plans lacked specific policies to guide decision-makers in achieving climate goals.
Evaluating rural municipal climate change plans in ontario, Canada
Guyadeen, Dave (author) / Henstra, Daniel (author)
Journal of Rural Studies ; 97 ; 123-139
2022-12-05
17 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
State and Municipal Climate Change Plans: The First Generation
| Online Contents | 2008
State and Municipal Climate Change Plans: The First Generation
| Taylor & Francis Verlag | 2008
Evaluating Climate Change Action Plans. National Actions for International Commitment
| Online Contents | 1998