How are local governments planning for heat mitigation? A study of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley jurisdictions

Abstract

Extreme heat is a growing concern for local governments, whose regulatory control of land development impacts the urban heat island effect. To better understand how local governments are responding, this study reviewed heat mitigation plans and policies from municipalities and regional districts in the historically temperate south coast of mainland British Columbia by asking how are Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley jurisdictions planning for extreme heat? 243 documents across 29 jurisdictions (27 municipalities and two regional districts) were reviewed using a plan evaluation framework for urban heat planning and keyword searches. Our results showed that heat-mitigating interventions were not uniformly or explicitly included within or across governments. Showing a lack of consideration of extreme heat as a hazard. Urban greening and site-scale interventions were the most common across jurisdictions. We argue that effective local governance for extreme heat requires regional coordination and alignment with higher levels of government and coordination across departments within local governments.