The first step to future-proof BC: Addressing implementation barriers associated with proactive emergency management

British Columbia has encountered numerous natural disaster events in the last decade. Despite this, and a growing body of evidence showing the number and magnitude of these disasters will only increase due to climate change, emergency management in the province is largely reactive. A proactive shift in emergency management is easier said than done, as the provincial government faces many barriers that prevent successful implementation of proactive emergency management. Thus, the policy issue this study seeks to address is that there are too many barriers preventing the British Columbian government from implementing proactive emergency management. A literature review, jurisdictional scan and multiple expert interviews were used to define the key barriers encountered by the provincial government. Four proposed policy options which seek to address these barriers were analyzed. The recommended policy bundle was selected based on the analysis conducted.