Part One of the Designing the Future Series outlined the enormous potential of Passive Survivability. Part Two explored the complex web of real-world constraints that limit the transition to a more resilient future.
Finance
Anne E. Kleffner, University of Calgary; Derek Cook, Ambrose University, and Mary Kelly, Wilfrid Laurier University Every year, extreme weather events wreak havoc across Canada, disrupting the lives of tens of thousands. Financial losses from these events have surged, surpassing $7 billion in 2024, due in part to climate change, […]
As climate change intensifies and the population grows, the imperative for resilient design will only increase. By recognizing the shared nature of both the investments and the returns, stakeholders can work together to build a safer, more sustainable future. This requires not just technical expertise but also policy innovation, financial creativity, and community engagement.
Public Private Partnerships are indispensable in the Pacific Northwest because disasters here cross borders, overwhelm single institutions, and demand coordinated resilience strategies. By leveraging government authority, private innovation, and community engagement, PPPs help the region prepare for, withstand, and recover from increasingly severe natural hazards. Find out what options are available to you.
The imperative to build resilient infrastructure and buildings is clear, but the primary barrier remains upfront financing. Resilient features—from reinforced foundations to redundant power systems—often cost more initially. To bridge this gap, the construction industry and its partners must leverage a suite of innovative financing mechanisms that monetize the long-term benefits of risk reduction and business continuity. Here are some suggested options.