British Columbia
Assembly of First Nations

Climate Change Scenarios for First Nations in BC: Projections, Data and Tools

Climate Change Scenarios for First Nations in BC: Projections, Data and Tools

April 25, May 30, June 20, 2023 | Online via Zoom

In recent years, First Nations in BC have not only been impacted by and responded to climate-related disasters; Nations have shown true climate leadership.

The BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) and the First Nations Emergency Services Society of BC (FNESS) have designed this Webinar and Virtual Workshop Series to create space for First Nations in BC to learn, discuss and utilize climate projections, data, and tools for climate action and decision-making.

Invitation PDF

Climate projections, data, and tools are valuable for Nations to utilize in climate planning and adaptation, but they must complement First Nations’ traditional knowledge in planning for future climatic scenarios and building resilience.

This Climate Change Scenarios for First Nations in BC: Projections, Data and Tools Climate Series is composed of one (1) Webinar and two (2) Virtual Workshops where participants will learn about:

  1. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1.5 °C global climate target, as set out in the Paris Agreement, and what this means for our future and survival in comparison with the different global warming scenarios in Canada and BC. The webinar will discuss why every increment of a degree matters for taking action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. We will also showcase First Nations exercising their leadership to use data, projections, and tools to respond and adapt to climate change.
  2. How to access First Nation reserve-specific climate data hosted on the FNESS Public Information Sharing Webpage, followed by how to interpret and use climate data for planning and decision-making in your community.
  3. How to use climate change templates, including environmental impact tracking and reporting and adaptation tools, through a live demonstration of the Lightship platform.

The Webinar and Workshops will be held online via Zoom. Registration is open to all First Nations in British Columbia.

The Webinar may be of interest to First Nations leadership, staff, and members, while the Two-Part Workshop Series may be most relevant to First Nations staff and technicians.

For questions about these sessions, please contact the BCAFN – Climate Change Portfolio, Kristi Denby at kristi.denby@bcafn.ca, or FNESS – Guyu Lin at glin@fness.bc.ca.

For questions about registration, please contact Joanna Prince at joanna.prince@bcafn.ca.

Additional Resources for the Webinar and Workshop Series

Completed Sessions

Webinar 1

What does the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 1.5 °C global climate target mean for First Nations in BC?

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 | 10:00 to 11:30 am PT – held online via Zoom

From increased floods and wildfires to sea level rise and impacts on traditional foods and health, climate change touches so many aspects of our lives. With the support of the Canadian Centre for Climate Services, Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, Tŝilhqot’in National Government, and FNESS, this webinar explored what the 1.5 °C threshold could mean for First Nations in BC under different scenarios of global warming, why this threshold is important, and how projections can inform adaptation and motivate mitigation efforts. The webinar discussed why every increment of a degree matters for taking action to mitigate and adapt to climate change. First Nations exercising their leadership to use data, projections, and tools to respond and adapt to climate change were also featured.

The webinar gathered First Nations leadership, staff members and technicians interested in climate data, climate action and First Nations climate leadership.

Climate Data Workshop Series: Part 1

How to Access and Interpret First Nation Reserve-Specific Climate Data

Tuesday, May 30, 2023 | 10:00 to 11:30 am PT – Held online via Zoom

In Part 1 of this interactive Climate Data Workshop, FNESS covered how participants can interpret climate data and the potential uses of climate data in planning and decision-making.

Participants learned how to access First Nation Reserve-specific climate data hosted on the FNESS Public Information Sharing Webpage (Lightship platform) through an interactive live demonstration. 

Climate Data Workshop Series: Part 2

Environmental Footprint Tracking and Reporting Tools

Tuesday, June 20, 2023 | 10:00 to 11:30 am PT – Online via Zoom

Part 2 of the Climate Data Workshop Series provided a more in-depth live demonstration of how to use the Lightship platform. The workshop outlined how to use reporting tools to track environmental impact and generate reports, climate change templates, and adaptation options for identified climate risks. 

If you are interested in setting up an in-person training on Lightship, please contact: Guyu Lin – Data Support Specialist at glin@fness.bc.ca or Brenden Mercer – FNESS Decision Support Manager at bmercer@fness.bc.ca

If you are interested in learning more about FNESS funding programs or if you require support with funding application, please contact: Casey LaRochelle – Regional Preparedness & Response Specialist at Clarochelle@fness.bc.ca 

If you are interested in future learning opportunities related to the climate emergency or climate data, please reach out to: Patricia Rojas – BCAFN, Regional Climate Change Coordinator at patricia.rojas@bcafn.ca or Kristi Denby – BCAFN, Climate Change – Environment Policy Analyst at kristi.denby@bcafn.ca

Presentation