| dc.description.abstract | Climate change poses serious threats to Canadian communities. Are communities prepared to manage the impacts of climate change? Are they ready? This research set out to explore and analyze how communities in Nova Scotia are planning for climate change. The Province has mandated the creation of individual municipal climate change action plans (MCCAP). This research examines and evaluates MCCAPs to assess plan strengths and weaknesses with regard to municipal climate change planning best practices. The plans were evaluated using a plan quality framework consisting of eight plan quality characteristics: fact base, goals/objectives, policies, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, coordination, participation, and organization. A qualitative research approach was taken to create a content and thematic analysis to interpret these findings.
Key results from the evaluation pointed to areas that often were lacking in MCCAPs. The elements that were overlooked included dedicated implementation sections/chapters, monitoring and evaluation strategies, and an explanation of public participation strategies. On the basis of this evaluation process, evidence-based recommendations were proposed that demonstrate how municipal climate change plans could better incorporate best practices. The recommendation areas were as follows: Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Participation, and Climate Change Training and Education for Planners. The findings provide an in-depth look at the planning processes taking place in Nova Scotia’s municipalities, and suggest how planners and decision-makers in these municipalities could improve their climate change planning approaches and strategies. | en |
