Building a Climate-Resilient City: The built environment

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines strategies for increasing the climate resilience of the urban built environment, with a specific focus on the Canadian Prairies. It discusses the risks posed by climate variability, the impact of the urban heat island effect, and the application of design protocols and urban planning paradigms to mitigate these risks.

• Alberta is projected to see significant temperature increases if global greenhouse gas emissions remain unchanged, with potential rises of 2.0°C by the 2030s and 4.0°C by the 2060s compared to the 1990s. Precipitation is expected to increase overall, specifically in winter, while declining in summer.
• Buildings in Calgary and Edmonton face specific climate risks including increased humidity (particularly in winter), more frequent freeze-thaw cycles, and episodic increases in wind speeds, temperature, and snow loads, as well as higher precipitation intensity such as rain-on-snow events.
• The Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) protocol and the Climate Change Hazards Information Portal (CCHIP) are identified as key tools for assessing climate risks to building components. PIEVC evaluates elements such as HVAC systems, foundations, and cladding, while CCHIP provides localized historic and projected climate data to analyze risks like roof collapse from cumulative rain/snow events.
• The urban heat island (UHI) effect, caused by the heat absorption of materials like asphalt and concrete, amplifies global warming and increases human mortality. In seven large Canadian cities, mortality rates increase by 2.3 per cent for every degree above 20°C, meaning a UHI intensity of 2–3°C can lead to a 4–7 per cent increase in mortality.
• Mitigating the urban heat island effect requires spatial planning that creates a 'mosaic' of high-density zones interspersed with green spaces and green belts. Other effective measures include the use of green (vegetated) roofs, reflective white roofing materials, and the integration of forestry into transportation corridors via the Complete Streets concept.
• Resource efficiency in buildings is promoted through certification programs like LEED and the Living Building Challenge (LBC). LEED gold-certified buildings are reported to emit 34 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions and consume 25 per cent less energy. LBC goes further by aiming for net positive environmental impact through water and renewable energy production.
• The EcoDistricts protocol focuses on neighborhood-scale regeneration to improve equity and resilience. While certified projects exist in US cities like Denver and Austin, the first Canadian EcoDistrict-certified project is located in central Ottawa, with an action plan focusing on climate protection, resource efficiency, ecosystem stewardship, and health and well-being.

APA

Venema, H., & Temmer, J. (2017). Building a Climate-Resilient City: The built environment. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pcc-brief-climate-resilient-built-environment.pdf

Chicago

Venema, Hank, and Jennifer Temmer. Building a Climate-Resilient City: The built environment. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2017. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pcc-brief-climate-resilient-built-environment.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Venema |first1=Hank |last2=Temmer |first2=Jennifer |title=Building a Climate-Resilient City: The built environment |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2017 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pcc-brief-climate-resilient-built-environment.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{venema2017building, author = {Venema, Hank and Temmer, Jennifer}, title = {{Building a Climate-Resilient City: The built environment}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2017}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/pcc-brief-climate-resilient-built-environment.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }