CBC News - 2nd major flooding in 11 years a sign Toronto is not adapting quickly enough, say climate experts
“Climate change is not going anywhere.… These events are going to continue to increase in frequency and severity”
A GO Train is stranded in flood water during a massive rain storm that hit Toronto in July 2013. (Winston Neutel/Canadian Press)
This recent article from CBC News reports on the second major flooding event in Toronto within 11 years, highlighting the city's struggle to adapt to increasing extreme weather events. On Tuesday, Toronto experienced severe rainfall reminiscent of the 2013 flood, resulting in similar consequences. Roads were submerged, subway stations turned into urban waterfalls, and power outages affected large parts of the city. The Don Valley Parkway (DVP) was closed as the adjacent Don River overflowed, and GO Transit services were halted. This flood, occurring just over a decade after the historic 2013 storm, underscores the city's continued vulnerability to such events.
Climate experts emphasize that these extreme weather events are expected to increase in frequency and severity due to climate change. Kathryn Bakos from the University of Waterloo's Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation explains that rising temperatures lead to more moisture in the atmosphere, resulting in more intense storms with larger amounts of precipitation over shorter periods. This pattern is becoming evident across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Canada as a whole.
However, climate change is not the only factor exacerbating these events. Aging municipal infrastructure, which was not designed to accommodate modern adaptation needs, and the removal of natural habitats like wetlands and grasslands, which act as natural sponges, contribute to the city's flood vulnerability. The proliferation of concrete structures replacing these natural buffers has intensified the impact of heavy rainfall.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow acknowledges the pressing reality of climate change, citing predictions that the number of severe rainstorm days could double within 15 years. She emphasizes the need for increased mitigation efforts and infrastructure improvements. The city has allocated $2 billion for transit system and road upgrades, yet it remains $26 billion and over a decade behind in necessary infrastructure work.
Despite some progress, frustrations remain among residents who witness recurring flooding in areas like the DVP and Lake Shore Boulevard. Experts like Bakos stress that adaptation is crucial. Investing in resilience and preventive measures can save significant costs in the long run. For every dollar spent on adaptation, $3 to $8 can be saved in cost avoidance over a 10-year period, making it a more cost-effective strategy to address extreme weather events now rather than later.
As Alberta navigates the complexities of groundwater sustainability in changing climatic conditions, ongoing initiatives like the Canada1Water project (C1W) provide crucial research and data for informed resource management strategies. The C1W project represents a critical piece of virtual water resources infrastructure that can help decision-makers and policy analysts in the food and agricultural sector ensure the sustainability of Canada’s critical agri-food industry.
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“The infrastructure that we have is designed really for the historical conditions, and these events have a very different nature”