Preparing today to save lives tomorrow: Study finds gaps in British Columbia’s extreme heat response plans

Local authorities must do more to prepare communities in British Columbia for the dangers of extreme heat, according to a new research paper from Simon Fraser University.

Four years after the infamous 2021 heat dome, which killed more than 600 people in B.C. alone, the study found significant differences in how municipalities within the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional districts are preparing for heat events.

While municipalities with larger populations and more financial resources are generally taking greater steps to mitigate the dangers of heat, the research—published in the Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning—found that there are fewer urban planning initiatives in areas with a lower socioeconomic status or lower population density.

Vancouver, Surrey and New Westminster led the way with the highest number of initiatives. Chilliwack, Delta, Port Coquitlam and West Vancouver were among those with limited plans.

“Heat is a growing danger for people around the world. The science shows that global temperatures are rising and extreme heat events are going to become more intense and more frequent,” says Andréanne Doyon, associate professor at SFU’s School of Resource and Environmental Management. “In B.C., we have seen firsthand the tragic consequences of extreme heat. We have to take steps today to prepare our buildings and neighborhoods so we can save lives tomorrow.”

Doyon applied for a grant to carry out the research following the 2021 heat dome. The study analyzed more than 240 official documents, dating from 2023, from 27 municipalities and two regional districts. The researchers looked at key terms relating to heat to assess whether plans were being put in place, and if so, which steps were being taken to mitigate the dangers.

Initiatives were then grouped into three main areas to determine the nature of the response: urban greening, urban design and land use. It is the first time an analysis of heat mitigation strategies across local governments in B.C. has been carried out.

“We wanted to know what is being done at local and regional levels so we could form a baseline and look for opportunities to improve initiatives,” says Doyon, who holds a Ph.D. in urban planning. “We found that the level of attention being given to heat mitigation strategies varies significantly depending on where you live. There are a lot of factors behind this variation, such as financial constraints, lack of staff expertise within authorities, population density or simply politics.”

The report also found there is a need for more cooperation across jurisdictions.

“We need to see a greater focus on how we improve neighborhoods in their entirety, rather than isolated initiatives,” says Doyon. “Better cooperation and coordination across authorities will lead to more effective action. Local governments can learn from each other, while planning agencies can play a significant role in bringing extreme heat strategies into the mainstream.”

Urban greening was found to be the most common heat mitigation response, which is unsurprising according to Doyon, as there is greater public understanding and support for green spaces such as parks and trees in urban areas.

“Where I’m worried is that Metro Vancouver has lost hundreds of square kilometers of ecological space, primarily due to development,” she adds. “We can’t keep doing that. Those green spaces help to keep our neighborhoods cool.”

As part of the next step in the research, Doyon and her team are carrying out an in-depth study on housing policy in Burnaby, one of the areas hardest hit, in terms of fatalities, by the 2021 heat dome.