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Minor Capital Projects – Climate Hazard Exposure Screening Tool v1.1
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this is the current, most updated version - last revised on June 29th, 2021
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Introduction
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This tool applies to minor capital projects. If you are completing a new construction or renovation project, please refer to the Step 1: Exposure Screen Methodology and corresponding Exposure Screen Tool, as per Capital Health Policy Manual Ch. 12, and the Resilience Guidelines.

Currently our minor capital projects are designed and operated according to building codes and standards that do not yet factor in future climate. Yet future climate is where we will need these facilities and our infrastructure to perform and deliver value to us.

Therefore, it is essential that future climate is considered early in the planning and design process to ensure that the project has:
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- considered the impacts of changing climate on the project and services the project will deliver;
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- determined the vulnerabilities to the project from a changing climate;
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- and built in the appropriate resiliency features for the climate expected during the service life of the project.
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This “first-pass”, high-level Exposure Screening Tool is for use at Project Inception or Concept stage to identify potential impacts of future climate on the project. Additionally project managers can screen at the beginning of a capital upgrade to ensure that it will be suitable for the changing climate over the life span of the upgrade.
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To complete the tool and for best results, assemble a cross-departmental group that includes participants from Facilities Maintenance and Operations (FMO), Climate Resilience & Adaptation, Energy and Emissions Management, Sustainability, Business Continuity, End Users and other key stakeholders.
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Resources / Considerations
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This tool is modified from the original to align with climate hazards identified in the Province of B.C.'s Preliminary Strategic Climate Risk Assessment: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/adaptation/risk-assessment.
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NOTE: The climate hazard list excludes ecosystem-based hazards: glacier mass loss; ocean acidification; saltwater intrusion; increase in invasive species (knotweed); loss of forest resources; reduction in ecosystem connectivity; and increased incidence of vector-borne disease (Lyme disease).
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The original tool - Climate Change Exposure Screening Tool for Capital Projects - was created by Island Health.
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Please contact Deanna.Fourt@viha.ca or Rebecca.Wareham@viha.ca with any concerns, comments, or questions regarding the original or modified tools.
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Tool Instructions
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Service Life: Determine the service life of the project. Projects with a service life of less than 5 years do not require screening.
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Climate Hazards: Some or all of the climate hazards listed are likely to impact health facilities and / or services, whether directly or indirectly (i.e. cascading impacts). In the event that a climate hazard (such as heatwaves) has already resulted in operational problems (such as overheating), it is reasonable to expect that more frequent, intense, longer and unpredictable heatwaves will result in a worsened overheating situation. Relevant Health Authority business units with expertise in climate resilience & adaptation (such as VIHA's Sustainability & Business Continuity Department) can assist with providing local climate projection data, maps and narratives to support use of this tool.
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Climate Impacts: The climate impacts listed are derived from climate risk assessments, and surveys of facility and clinical operations staff, that were completed across B.C. between 2018-2020. As this list is not extensive, additional and / or other impacts may be added in the blank cells provided. If more rows are needed, then use the "insert row" feature.
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Screening Questions: There are four questions with Yes, No, Maybe or Unknown answers from the drop down box. Based on the answers, the final column will indicate if future climate change planning or additional review is required. Save a copy of this tool before answering the questions, this template should be kept clear and accessible to everyone.
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Comments: Record any concerns, questions or issues that may come up during the discussion. Also, note any future or additional projects that may be necessary.
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Next Steps: If future climate change planning is required then sufficient budget will be necessary to allow for a deeper impacts and adaptation review as well as for additional measures or modifications to the project. Please consult with the relevant Health Authority business unit (e.g. VIHA' Sustainability and Business Continuity Department) and the Climate Change Primer for further information and support for next steps or for any questions regarding the development of this tool.
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Please save the completed tool and include it within project documentation submitted for funding requests. All consultants hired to work on projects flagged for future climate must include this work in their scope of service (see RFP Amendment). The information in this tool will provide a basis for design teams for including future climate in their project development. Depending on the scope and scale of the project, this may involve workshops to determine the future climate variables used in design and the level of risk the project can tolerate.
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