The Bluesfest stage collapsed during an extreme weather event. Fortunately no one was killed. But the world of late has been plagued with other weather extremes such as droughts, floods, fires and tornados and regrettably many lives have been lost. The insurance companies have been taking a bath in property damage. According to Munich RE, aggregate losses from weather-related natural catastrophes now total US$1,600 billion since 1980, and insured losses have increased, on average, by 11% per year And where there are large losses, one can be sure litigators are lurking.

Who is to blame? Well, of course, the standard answer is that extreme weather events are individual, rare and random events that can’t be foreseen. No one is at fault. They are just part of the risks of life. Ah, but is that answer true in the age of human induced rapid climate change? One climatologist from Environment Canada has his doubts.

Everything we build, everything our province or municipalities approve is based on standards which, in turn, are based on assumptions of statistical risk of weather extremes. For example, we allow buildings to be constructed on known flood plains, but just on those portions that are not likely to flood in 100 years based on a statistical analysis of past weather patterns. Effectively our provincial and municipal governments are saying to the public that the infrastructure of our communities is prepared to handle all but the most unusual weather conditions.

But we know that historic weather patterns no longer apply. The climate is changing and with this change, is bringing in a new pattern and frequency of extreme weather events. And governments have not updated their standards or thoroughly reviewed our built infrastructure to establish if it is still appropriate and safe. Our municipalities, which often wield the most direct levers of control in this area, have not yet adapted to climate change largely because of the influence of climate change deniers, doubters and delayers. But the risk are real, just ask the insurance companies.

Can our governments continue to shirk all responsibility and liability for losses incurred due to extreme weather events when we know that their frequency and severity is increasing? The litigators lurk in the shadows. If there are law suits they will be big ones. The courts may yet decide the fate of those that follow the deniers, doubters and delayers. Ontario has a climate change adaptation plan. It’s not perfect but it is a good start. Best if the province and municipalities get on with implementing aggressive adaptation measures.