TRU researchers are taking a global issue down to local levels with a public outreach project studying the impact of climate change on small cities and rural communities in B.C.

The project has received close to $50,000 in funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Adaptation and resiliency are among the goals of the research.

“Our outreach activities will network affected communities in B.C., providing a community-level forum to share the innovative ways that small cities and rural communities are adapting to climate change,” said Julie Drolet, principal researcher.

Kamloops, Quesnel, Prince George, Clearwater, 100 Mile House and Merritt are included in the study.

The project developed out of an earlier joint inquiry with the Kamloops Women’s Resource Group Society. That research looked at community narratives of climate-change impacts, including the effect on natural resource livelihoods, on men and women, and on the status of sustainable development.

With the latest project, there is an emphasis on implementing community-based practical solutions and activities to promote disaster risk-reduction in vulnerable communities.

(Kamloops Daily News)