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Climate Impacts Vulnerability Exercise

The Climate Impacts Vulnerability Exercise presents six different fictional characters designed to represent some common attributes of Town of Essex citizens. Respondents will read the biographies of each character, including their employment, family life, hobbies, and life goals, then complete the exercise to identify how their chosen character would be impacted by climate change.

The character biographies are available online at www.essex.ca/ECAT

For which character would you like to complete the Climate Vulnerability Assessment for?

Darryl (Winegrower)

Mona (Student/Firefighter)

Gary (Farmer)

Lisa (Janitor)

Maria (Retiree)

Dylan (Researcher)

For each question below, please indicate whether the character you picked would have high, medium, or low vulnerability to that particular climate change impact.

Once complete, please provide any additional comments in the final section.

Increased annual temperatures leading to increased pests and spread of respiratory, waterborne, and vector human, animal, and plant diseases

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

More extreme spring and summer weather resulting in decreased use of outdoor recreation areas and facilities, and increased demand for indoor facilities

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

Milder winter temperatures leading to more ice and freezing rain and less snow resulting in infrastructure damage and public safety concerns throughout the community and on rural roads (e.g. visibility with snow drift)

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

Milder winter temperatures leading to more ice and freezing rain and less snow resulting in increased salt usage and impacts to soil and water quality

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

More extreme hot days >30˚C and increased humidity resulting in increased heat and mental stress in youth, elderly, outdoor workers, and those with preexisting health conditions

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

More extreme hot days >30˚C leading to increased energy consumption resulting in increased energy costs

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

Increased temperature variability in shoulder seasons, leading to less confidence in historical weather patterns and planting / harvesting schedules

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

More extreme weather events (e.g. windstorms, thunderstorms, heatwaves, polar vortices) resulting in power, communication, and service disruptions

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

More frequent/severe droughts or floods leading to lower crop yields, damage to vegetation and gardens, and economic loss

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

Higher lake levels and decreased lake health (algae blooms, e.coli, contaminants etc.) resulting in water shortages and usage restrictions

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

More frequent/severe rainstorms leading to rising lake water levels resulting in wave uprush hazards and impacts to shoreline access, water quality, and damage to infrastructure adjacent to shoreline

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

More heavy rainfall events leading to increased flooding resulting in building damage, basement flooding, infrastructure stress, and public health and water quality concerns

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

Milder average winters leading to increased local tourism, active transportation, and outdoor programming but less traditional winter activities.

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

Increased variability in local climate leading to reduced native natural habitat and faunal biodiversity

Low vulnerability

Medium vulnerability

High vulnerability

Please provide any additional comments about climate impact vulnerability in the Town of Essex.

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Climate Impacts Vulnerability Exercise