SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Climate Change Adaptation

Honourable senators, with Hurricane Melissa battering the Caribbean, I would like to speak in my capacity as ambassador for research and innovation at my Montreal alma mater, the École de technologie supérieure, or ETS.

The ETS’s research institute specializing in resilient and circular infrastructure, the AdapT institute, supports innovative projects that contribute to infrastructure and community adaptation to climate change, both here and abroad.

Its projects seek to catalyze practical solutions grounded in research and collaboration in order to address critical issues, such as water management, building resiliency and environmental impact mitigation.

If we want our infrastructure to be more resilient to disasters, we need to address the complex technological and environmental challenges posed by hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, earthquakes and melting permafrost.

Colleagues, it is before a disaster strikes that we can make a difference between life and death. We must study the risks in order to improve our buildings, ports and roads. Canada must increase its investments to address these risks and to deal with the growing threat of extreme weather events related to climate change. I hope that the inclusive, multidisciplinary approach taken by our universities, governments and industries will continue to develop and grow stronger with the help of the affected communities.

Our commitment will determine whether we succeed in reducing infrastructure vulnerabilities and in making our infrastructure more resilient and sustainable in today’s environment.

In closing, I want to acknowledge the efforts of Canada’s linesmen, who are already hard at work restoring power to the Caribbean. Good luck and thank you!