Assessing Climate Change Risk and Resilience in the Yukon
Priority 1 Extreme weather and precipitation events that threaten transportation
infrastructure
Findings: Transportation infrastructure came up in almost every discussion with project
participants. Risks related to supply chain interruptions received high scores. The most significant
impacts for transportation infrastructure include wildfires, warming winter conditions, washouts
and landslides, damage from flooding, reduced access to winter roads and ice bridges, and
permafrost thaw.
Interruptions and damage to Yukon's roads and highways can affect all facets of Yukoners' lives. For
example, they can disrupt the flow of fuel and food, sever connections between communities, make
it more difficult or impossible for Yukoners to travel for healthcare or essential services, and prevent
local businesses from operating. The consequences of transportation interruptions are especially
pronounced in the winter due to potential impacts to communities during periods of extreme cold.
Recommendations: Building resilience to transportation infrastructure is vital. Through Our Clean
Future, the Government of Yukon is completing vulnerability assessments and hazard mapping
along Yukon's transportation network. This work is planned for completion in 2023. The completion
of the vulnerability assessments will inform the strategic deployment of staff capacity, equipment
and funding for upgrades and maintenance.
Ensuring that Yukoners are food secure, have access to health and social services, have back-up
heat and power, and can recover financially from interruptions to local businesses will also provide
a buffer against risks to transportation infrastructure.
66 You can give someone 300 dollars and they can go to the grocery store and you can probably have
enough food for a week or you could take that same 300 dollars for gas and ammunition and what
you need on the land, and harvest meat that can last you all winter.
PROJECT PARTICIPANT, OLD CROW
CHAPTER 4 PRIORITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Government of Yukon is in the process
of completing several actions outlined in Our
Clean Future that will build capacity to address
risks to transportation infrastructure, such as
this washout near the White River bridge. They
include mapping flood and geohazard risks
along transportation corridors, and considering
climate change information in upcoming road
infrastructure developments. It is important to
complete these actions as quickly as possible
in order to be proactive and to limit any costs
associated with impacts.
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