Words by Leanne Bilodeau and Caitlin Lichimo.
The Okanagan is known for its frequent and intense wildfires and floods. In August 2023, British Columbia called a state of emergency due to an aggressive, fast-moving wildfire near West Kelowna. This wildfire event directly impacted members of the UBC Okanagan community as they were given immediate notice to evacuate the campus. As the detrimental effects of climate change continue to worsen, UBC Okanagan has the responsibility to plan for and adapt to these extreme weather events.
UBC Okanagan is advancing key initiatives to help the campus adapt to these growing climate-related risks, including an Overland Flood Path Assessment, an updated Wildfire Management Plan, the Climate Resilient Buildings Project, and the Campus Infrastructure Resilience Plan.
Together, these efforts support the university’s commitment to the UBC Okanagan Climate Action Plan 2030 (CAP 2030) and climate resilience. Preparing for the impacts of climate change is essential, particularly in the Okanagan region, where wildfires, extreme heat, and flooding are becoming increasingly frequent and severe.
Building climate resilience across campus
The Overland Flood Path Assessment was launched to better understand how surface water currently moves across the main campus. Closely tied to UBC Okanagan’s Integrated Rainwater Management Plan (IRMP), the study identified flood-related risks to inform current potential stormwater infrastructure and surface management requirements. This work is critical for protecting campus assets like buildings and utilities. The second part of this study is anticipated to inform future stormwater management requirements for the main campus based on new development identified in the Campus Plan Update.
Another key initiative is the Climate Resilient Buildings Project, which assessed how UBC Okanagan’s buildings may be impacted by climate hazards such as extreme heat and wildfire smoke. The project aligns campus design standards with CleanBC’s Climate Resilience Framework and supports the implementation of low-carbon, resilient building design. Findings from this project are informing current and future building designs to better withstand climate-related risks while reducing emissions.
Upcoming campus infrastructure and wildfire management plans
The new Campus Infrastructure Resilience Plan, currently under development, builds on a campus-wide Multi-Hazards Assessment. It aims to identify vulnerabilities across critical systems like utilities, transportation, and IT infrastructure, and develop strategies to ensure these systems remain functional during climate-related disruptions. This plan will help integrate resilience thinking into long-term campus infrastructure planning.
At the same time, UBC Okanagan is leading an update to its Wildfire Management Plan, originally developed in 2006 to meet the City of Kelowna’s requirements. This update is timely given recent wildfire events, evolving wildfire behaviour due to climate change, changes in the surrounding landscape, and campus growth since 2006. New knowledge about wildfire risk management, including advances in fire behaviour modelling, vegetation mapping, and risk assessment, will inform the revised plan. It will include an action plan, technical appendices, and geospatial data to support long-term campus planning and response.
Envisioning the future of UBC Okanagan's campus and community wellbeing
Together, these initiatives demonstrate how UBC Okanagan is embedding climate resilience across campus operations, campus planning, and decision-making. They also directly support the development of the Campus Plan update, which will guide how the university grows and evolves over the next 20 years.
By proactively assessing risk and implementing adaptation strategies, UBC Okanagan is helping protect its campus community and safeguard important assets like buildings and infrastructure while ensuring continuity of business operations in the face of climate-related risks and disruptions.