EMERGENCY PLANNING SECRETARIAT
Yo:yes Sq'eq'o | Working Together
Retreating From Risk (RFR) Project
The best way to reduce risk is to move away from it​
The project is led by the University of Waterloo in partnership with universities in Canada, the United States, and Indonesia. It examines how managed retreat can be implemented as a practical climate adaptation strategy for communities and cities affected by environmental and climate-related change.
Project Partners
Project Overview
The Managed Retreat Research Project is led by the University of Waterloo in partnership with international universities and community organizations to explore how managed retreat can be used as a practical climate adaptation strategy. The project examines experiences and approaches from Canada, the United States, and Indonesia to better understand how communities can respond to increasing flood and climate-related risks. EPS supports the project through community engagement, coordination, and communications, helping ensure that community perspectives are incorporated into research, planning, and future resilience initiatives.
The project is currently in the early planning and scoping phase. A PhD student from the University of British Columbia has been hired to support the research and is currently defining the scope of work. Community objectives and potential focus areas are still being explored, including case studies, regional reviews of managed retreat in First Nations communities, flood management visualizations, and decision-support tools.
Project Goals
The goal of this project is to work collaboratively with communities and research partners to explore how managed retreat can serve as a practical and effective climate adaptation strategy. By examining case studies and experiences from Canada, the United States, and Indonesia, the project seeks to better understand how communities can adapt to increasing flood and climate-related risks. The desired outcome is to strengthen partnerships with international universities, improve knowledge of managed retreat approaches, and identify opportunities to incorporate these strategies into flood planning and long-term community resilience efforts. The project will also support the development of tools, resources, and recommendations that can help communities make informed adaptation decisions.
What is Managed Retreat?
Managed retreat is the purposeful, strategic relocation of people, property, and critical infrastructure away from areas vulnerable to recurrent climate hazards like floods and wildfires. It acts as a proactive adaptation strategy to reduce risk and enhance long-term community safety
For more information about Retreating from Risk Visit https://uwaterloo.ca/retreating-from-risk/
