Nanaimo area to showcase climate initiatives

Filipino local government leaders to visit Nanaimo and Qualicum Beach

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed June 5, 2026 8:00 AM

Summary

In celebration of World Oceans Day, elected local government officials from the Philippines will be visiting the Nanaimo area on June 9 as part of a peer exchange focused on climate adaptation and disaster reduction. The visit, organized by Alinea International in collaboration with the Climate Risk Institute (CRI), is part of a larger 6-year Governance for Climate and Disaster Resilience (GovCDR) initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada to help advance the climate adaptation and disaster resilience pillar of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. During the visit, the City of Nanaimo, the Regional District of Nanaimo, the Town of Qualicum Beach, and the Stewardship Centre for British Columbia will have an opportunity to showcase how we are working together to prepare for climate impacts within the Nanaimo region.

While in Nanaimo, delegates will learn about the City's Sea Level Rise Management Plan project (Our Coastal City) and the Climate Hazard Assessment and Mapping Project (CHAMP), the Regional District of Nanaimo's regional sea level rise project (Our Changing Coast) and Green Shores from the Stewardship Centre for BC. The group will also travel to Qualicum Beach to view the Beach Creek Estuary and Marine Spit, which was designed with Green Shores principles.

Learn more about the City's Our Coastal City project and complete a survey regarding options for responding to sea level rise. Visit the Our Coastal City page on Get Involved Nanaimo to learn more about the City's sea level rise management plan. The survey is open until June 12, 2026.

Link to Strategic Plan: City Plan Policy (C1.2) Climate adaptation is critical to lessen the impacts of climate change and ensure our community continues to thrive, even as climate change occurs.

Key Points

A group of local government officials from The Philippines will be visiting the City of Nanaimo and the Town of Qualicum Beach on June 9 to learn about how the City and region are preparing for climate change.
The City of Nanaimo's Our Coastal City project builds on a 2018 Sea Level Rise study and helps us understand future sea level rise impacts in Departure Bay, Duke Point, Protection Island and Downtown. Nanaimo residents can learn about these findings and provide feedback on options for responding to sea level rise.

Quotes

"I'd like to extend a friendly Nanaimo welcome to our visitors from The Philippines. Climate change is a global problem that requires us to work together to learn how to adapt. Through this visit, coastal communities can learn from each other to help us better prepare for future climate impacts."

Leonard Krog

Mayor

City of Nanaimo

"Green Shores offers a proven alternative to hard armouring—reducing erosion and flooding while enhancing what we love about shorelines, like beach access, coastal habitats, and cultural values. The Stewardship Centre is pleased to be part of this day for sharing knowledge about resilient shorelines, and showcasing Green Shores in action."

Sarah Primeau

Executive Director

Stewardship Centre for British Columbia

"This visit highlights the value of communities learning directly from one another as they respond to the growing impacts of climate change. As an organization that advances climate adaptation in Canada and across the globe, we are excited to help connect local leaders from the Philippines with partners in the Nanaimo region who are advancing innovative work in coastal resilience, climate adaptation, and disaster risk reduction."

Erik Sparling

Vice President

Climate Risk Institute

Quick Facts

Due to our changing climate, the Nanaimo area is expecting hotter, drier summers, more frequent and intense winter storms, and higher sea levels in the future.
Sea level rise combined with more intense winter storms will lead to increased coastal flooding in parts of Nanaimo and the surrounding region.
Green Shores is a framework for the planning and design of resilient shorelines, providing protection from erosion and flooding while enhancing shoreline ecosystems and cultural values.
The Stewardship Centre for BC offers training and resources to help shoreline managers, residents, and professionals use Green Shores strategies to protect lake and marine shorelines from storms, flooding and erosion.