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Cambie Street bridge pillars marked for where the sea level will rise over the years

Sea level rise

Sea level rise is caused by the ocean expanding as it heats up due to global warming and as major stores of ice from glaciers and ice sheets melt.

Around the world, sea level rise and flood-related events are causing billions of dollars in damage.

Cities are responding with efforts to enhance their communities’ resilience to flooding. Vancouver is planning for this now, to prevent impacts of major catastrophes and to avoid major costs down the road.

Vancouver's Changing Shoreline  (7 MB)

January 23 to 28, 2019 – Help us document rising sea levels

Storm surges along the Stanley Park Seawall

Snap photos of the 2019 King Tides and provide us with critical information to help improve our understanding of the changing shoreline.

Upload your shoreline photo

Learn about King Tides

Map of sea levels, 2016 and 2100, if no adaptation measures are implemented

Sea level image showing 2016 conditions Projected sea level rise during extreme storm in 2100

 

Legend

Downtown

English
Bay

Kits Beach

Airport

PNE

Stanley
Park

UBC

 

What we're doing to respond to sea level rise

  • We commissioned the Coastal Flood Risk Assessment in order to better understand flooding risk for today and in various future scenario, and to develop and compare preliminary adaptation options
  • We're developing a Coastal Adaptation Plan (CAP) for the Fraser River Foreshore area that will identify solutions to reduce flood risk.
  • In 2014, we updated the Building Bylaw to include floodplain standards and requirements for floodplain areas
  • We have been working with the BC Storm Surge Forecasting Program, which provides storm surge forecasts
  • All new coastline projects are incorporating coastal flood risk information to ensure resilient design
  • We will be asking the public for input on sea level rise response options over the coming year

What you can do

Presenter at SFU lecture series about sea level rise impacts

Learn from experts

We hosted a series of lectures with SFU to discuss how Vancouver will be impacted and what we can do to prepare.

Watch the lectures

Ocean waves against Seawall in fall

What are king tides?

By 2050, our winter high tides will be more like today’s annual king tide.

Learn about king tides

People walking in park

Get involved

We have lots of ideas to help you minimize your footprint.

Browse green programs

How much do you know about sea level rise?

By City of Vancouver

Take our short quiz to test your knowledge.

  • Question one

    By City of Vancouver

    How many meters of sea level rise are we planning for by 2100?

  • Answer one

    By City of Vancouver

    We are planning for one meter of sea rise for 2100. The Province of BC provided this projection for local municipalities.

  • Question two

    By City of Vancouver

    Sea level rise is partially caused by the melting of land ice and ice sheets adding water to our oceans. What causes this phenomenon?

  • Answer two

    By City of Vancouver

    High levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere, leading to rising air temperatures and the melting of land ice.

  • Question three

    By City of Vancouver

    As the ocean creeps up due to sea level rise, the beach area exposed during low tide will shrink. What is this phenomenon called?

  • Answer three

    By City of Vancouver

    Coastal squeeze. This will result in the loss of habitat of birds, forage fish, mussels, and clams in Vancouver’s shoreline ecosystem.

  • Question four

    By City of Vancouver

    With one meter of sea level rise, how many square kilometres of land in the City of Vancouver will be in the flood plain?

  • Answer four

    By City of Vancouver

    13 square kilometers. This estimate is based on a projected sea level rise of one meter and without flood management interventions.

  • Question five

    By City of Vancouver

    Complete the sentence: The City of Vancouver has a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least __% by the year 2050 through our Renewable City Strategy.

  • Answer five

    By City of Vancouver

    80%. Reducing greenhouse gases will help reduce the amount of sea level rise we will have to adapt to. Learn about the Renewable City Strategy.

  • Question six

    By City of Vancouver

    In 2012, Vancouver City Council adopted which strategy to ensure Vancouver remains vibrant, liveable, and resilient in the face of climate change?

  • Answer six

    By City of Vancouver

    The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Because sea levels don’t respond instantly to warming, we are committed to a certain amount of continued sea level rise into the future. Learn more about the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

  • Question seven

    By City of Vancouver

    What action(s) can you take reduce individual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions?

  • Answer seven

    By City of Vancouver

    You can compost your food waste, eat more vegetarian meals, insulate your home and reduce energy leaks, and use transit, cycle, or walk more. These are a few ways that you can curb your emissions and help slow sea level rise.

Documents

Coastal Flood Risk Assessment background

Additional resources

Contact us

sealevelrise@vancouver.ca