The coast is emblematic of Nova Scotia, its people and its culture. About 70% of Nova Scotia’s population resides along the coast making this “coastal zone” a place where private and public development has concentrated over the years.
Sea level rise and climate change pose a serious threat for coastal properties and populations in this Atlantic Canada province. Not only does infrastructure becomes at risk of permanent inundation, but important industries to the economy can also be impacted, such as through more frequent business interruptions from damaging storm surges.
The Ecology Action Centre (EAC)—a non-profit organization—has long advocated for coastal policy and legislation for protecting people, property and coastal ecosystems in Nova Scotia from the impacts of climate change.
The need for a coastal strategy
Nova Scotia currently does not have provincial legislation that provides direction to all municipalities in the province on where and how to build in the coastal zone. Inappropriate continued development in the coastal zone could increase the number of people living in locations vulnerable to sea level rise and coastal floods.
According to the EAC, although some municipalities have plans that prevent inappropriate development along the coasts (e.g., building a house where floods are known to occur), "the majority of municipalities have no coastal management strategies in place".
The upside is that the EAC’s advocacy has not fallen on deaf ears. In 2017, the Provincial government announced its commitment to implementing a Coastal Protection Act—legislation that would legally protect Nova Scotia’s coasts.
Samantha Page, EAC’s Coastal
Adaptation Coordinator, says that, "With the increasing impacts of storms and extreme water levels in Nova Scotia, the implementation of a Coastal Protection Act that protects people, property and our valuable coastal ecosystems is more important than ever. We are happy that the current government has recognized the importance of this issue and we will continue to work with them to ensure that the Act is a strong and beneficial piece of legislation for all Nova Scotians."
Samantha also states that "As the first Coastal Protection Act in Canada, this legislation could also set the stage for other coastal provinces across the country to address similar challenges."
As this legislation is developed, there are details that need to be addressed through consultations with citizens and stakeholders.
The Ecology Action Centre's position
The EAC indicates that the Coastal Protection Act should:
- be informed by the latest science and technical data
- increase clarity and communication about coastal hazards, regulations and roles and responsibilities of involved parties
- establish a provincial land-use planning framework with a province-wide minimum standard for new development and that promotes climate adaptation for existing built-infrastructure
- be inclusive of existing by-laws and municipal strategies already in place
There continues to be questions that need to be answered such as how this legislation should be enforced, how to deal with re-construction in at-risk zones, and whether province-wide access to information for decision support and policy enforcement (e.g., flood maps) is necessary.
Developing this legislation is a short-term effort that can have long-term benefits for ensuring continued and safe growth of coastal communities in Nova Scotia.
For more information about the Coastal Protection Act, visit the EAC’s website or read a policy brief (PDF) they wrote on this topic.
A typical coastal landscape in Nova Scotia. Source: Ecology Action Centre. Image published with permission.