Technical Report: British Columbia heatwave

Abstract

In summer 2021, air temperatures in Canada broke records multiple days in a row as a powerful heatwave spread over the Pacific Northwest, registering over 600 heat-related deaths and setting an all-time high-temperature record for the country at 49.6°C (121.3°F). An insufficient preparedness for such high temperatures meant that emergency response capacity was overwhelmed while the general public was unequipped to deal with anomalous temperatures. As climate change continues to make heat events such as this one more frequent and intense, the lessons learned during this disaster are critical to prepare for the next. This technical background report for the 2021/2022 edition of the Interconnected Disaster Risks report analyses the root causes, drivers, impacts and potential solutions for the British Columbia heatwave through a forensic analysis of academic literature, media articles and expert interviews.