TRACK 1, DAY 2
The Real Value of Communicating Climate Change
Christopher Davidson, WSP Canada Inc.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. | Hall A
ABSTRACT
Engineers and scientists understand the impact climate change is having on our work, but we struggle with how to make people outside our specialties understand those impacts. The result is that the general public is unaware of the costs, and also adds stress we can struggle to express.
We set out to create a simple demonstration of the cost of climate change on stormwater in Mississauga. Using GIS information (75,000 pipe sizes and lengths), construction costs, and expected per-degree changes in rainfall intensity, we were able to show a $500-million increase in present-day cost for storm pipes in Mississauga.
The result was an easy-to-read chart that showed climate change not as a one-off cost but a potentially rising in the future. Following development of the chart, we also explored different simple ways of communicating climate change impacts.
The goal of the presentation is to get the audience to feel their own worry and stress over climate impacts, and then recognize benefit of expressing that.
Conclusion: As experts we need to find simple ways of communicating climate change costs, both to push the larger discussion and for our own personal benefit.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Christopher Davidson, WSP Canada Inc.
Christopher Davidson is a senior surface water engineer in the province of Ontario with more than 20 years of experience in the field of water resources, including stormwater design, hydrology and hydraulic modelling, water balances, water management, and climate interactions with surface water.
Project experience includes design of stormwater collection and detention systems, design of hydraulic structures, flood delineation and management, and climate change impacts and mitigation. Water resources work has been completed for clients in the Municipalities, Land Developers, Power Generation, Aggregate and Mining Sectors.
Christopher is also actively involved in engineering outreach, sharing engineering stories through programs such as Engineers of Tomorrow, classroom visits, and creating online content.