Beyond Climate Data: Integrating Socio-Economic and Ecological Insights for Effective Adaptation Planning

Resilience requires planning. This was one of the key takeaways from the 2024 ClimateWest Forum. As we experience a changing climate in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba – hotter and drier summers, warmer and wetter winters, and more frequent extreme weather events, such as wildfire and flooding – it is clear that communities must plan for the future to protect their people, assets, and the ecosystems in and around their communities.

When developing a climate adaptation plan, using climate data projections to identify risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities is a key piece of the puzzle. Understanding your climate risk starts with having good climate data. While there may be an element of uncertainty, climate data projections are essential to help you understand the range of possibilities for what to expect from our changing climate. Check out our blog and guide for further guidance on the importance of climate data and where to find it for free.

In addition to traditional climate data projections for variables like temperature and precipitation, socio-economic and ecological data should also be considered in the planning process to create a more robust plan for the future.

What is socio-economic and ecological data?

Socio-economic and ecological data is information relating to the social, environmental and economic prosperity of a system or individual. Socio-economic data provides insight into the human dimension of climate change. Examples of socio-economic data include age, income, ethnicity, and education level. Ecological data helps us understand the health and sustainability of natural systems that are vital for community resilience. Examples of ecological data include species count, forested area and water levels.

Why should I use socio-economic and ecological data?

Using other types of data alongside climate data will help to build a more complete picture and increase the likelihood of success. Together, socio-economic and ecological data provide information about a community’s health and wellbeing, nature and biodiversity, disaster resilience, infrastructure, and economy and workers. By integrating these diverse data sets, communities can create a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of how climate change impacts different facets of the community. This holistic approach enables the development of targeted strategies that address specific vulnerabilities and leverage unique strengths.

How should I use it?

Socio-economic and ecological data can be used at the initial, planning, and implementation stages of the adaptation planning process and may help communities:

• to direct resources effectively under future changing climate conditions.
• to minimize the risk of identifying solutions that are maladaptive, i.e. unintentionally create more risk and vulnerability to a community’s people and/or ecosystems.
• to consider their ability to address costly future impacts such as infrastructure damage.

For instance, age demographics can inform emergency response plans by identifying populations that may need additional assistance during extreme weather events. Income data can highlight areas where financial resources for adaptation measures may be limited, guiding equitable distribution of aid and support. Education levels can affect public awareness and engagement in sustainability initiatives, while understanding ethnic diversity can ensure that communication strategies are culturally sensitive and inclusive.

Tracking species count and biodiversity can indicate ecosystem health and identify areas at risk of collapse, which could exacerbate climate impacts. Monitoring forested areas and water levels is crucial for managing natural resources and reducing the risk of wildfires and floods. By preserving and restoring ecological systems, communities can enhance natural defenses against climate impacts and maintain essential ecosystem services such as clean air and water.

Where can I find it?

Socio-economic and ecological data is often harder to find than climate data. To help communities identify and find this data, ClimateWest collaborated with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to develop a user-friendly guide for communities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Beyond Climate: An Introduction to Socio-Economic and Ecological Data for Community Adaptation Planning in the Prairies is a practical tool to navigate key data sources specific to the three provinces The goal of the guide is to help users find existing data from easily accessible sources, such as statistical platforms hosted by governments. Particularly when resources are scarce, using publicly available data can strengthen adaptation planning processes, but the actors involved may not be aware that it exists, or how it can be accessed.

The plain language guide is divided into three sections. The first section provides a basic introduction to socio-economic and ecological data and its role in adaptation planning.  The second section begins with an overview of general socio-economic and ecological data that may be useful for adaptation planning in the three provinces. It then provides sector-specific data, organized into themes that align with the pillars used in Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy, namely:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Nature and Biodiversity
• Disaster Resilience
• Infrastructure
• Economy and Workers

The final section briefly addresses some of the key challenges involved in incorporating socio-economic and ecological information into the adaptation planning process and provides some suggestions on how to manage them.

The Beyond Climate guide provides many socio-economic and ecological data sources at the national and provincial level that are publicly available, but also highlights how the first and best place to find high quality, reliable data is at the local level. Local level data is essential in understanding the history of a community’s citizens, infrastructure and environment, and to identify what makes them unique in terms of risks and opportunities to enhance preparedness.

While the use of Indigenous Knowledge in adaptation planning is beyond the scope of the guide, ClimateWest recommends that adaptation planning includes Indigenous engagement and advisors from the beginning of the planning process.

By embracing a data-driven and inclusive approach to climate adaptation, communities can build resilience against the growing challenges posed by climate change, ensuring a safer and more sustainable future for all.

Access the guide

What next? If you have questions about this report or how to take the next steps, reach out to our Help Desk by calling 204-995-6514 or email us at info@climatewest.ca. You can also check out our publications page for further resources that might be relevant to you.

Confused? We strive to talk about climate adaptation in approachable, easy-to-understand language. However, if you are unsure of any of the terms or concepts used in this article, visit our Get Started page or take a look at these resources:

• Climate Change Concepts, Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Climate Change: The Basics, Prairie Climate Centre
• Glossary and Learning Zone, ClimateData.ca