Handling the heat: Examining potential climate change adaptation strategies for British Columbia’s public sector organizations

Climate change and rising global temperatures are impacting British Columbia. The province has experienced changes in temperature and precipitation patterns that are projected to continue for decades. The operations of public sector organizations (PSOs) in British Columbia, including government agencies, crown corporations, health authorities and educational institutions, will be impacted by climate change. The Government of British Columbia has expressed intent to address this issue and specifically to have PSOs lead climate change adaptation efforts in the province. Despite this commitment, adaptation in the province has been limited and inconsistent. This research attempts to address this issue by evaluating policies the provincial government can implement to facilitate PSO adaptation initiatives. Three policy options are considered, which focus on ensuring PSOs identify climate vulnerabilities and implement adaptation strategies.