Program Co-ordinator: Caroline Larrivée

Context

Infrastructures are an important heritage asset and represent a substantial investment for municipalities:

• 70% of the Quebec economy is in the tertiary sector, and is highly dependent on socioeconomic activities using infrastructures and networks. Breakdowns or failures mean serious disruptions.
• Our infrastructures were designed on the basis of past climate statistics, on the assumption that they were representative of future climate conditions.
• Our infrastructures are ageing.
• Our infrastructures have a lifetime of several decades – during which period climate change will have an impact.

Major investments are planned to renew or rehabilitate our infrastructures, and considerations related to climate change must be included in their design and maintenance:

• Changes in mean temperatures and precipitation.
• Greater frequency, intensity and duration of extreme climate conditions.

Objectives

• Document and explain the relationships between climate, infrastructures, socioeconomic activity and anticipated climate change impacts.
• Define effective adaptation strategies to rapidly mitigate the many impacts on infrastructures and land use.

Research projects

• Impacts and adaptation associated with climate change affecting urban drainage in Quebec
• Design and planning for the renewal of stormwater management infrastructure in a context of adaptation to climate change
• Simulation of climate change adaptation measures relating to urban drainage
• Climate change adaptation plan - Guide for municipalities