Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions PICS aims to catalyze and mobilize research, partnerships, and knowledge that generate climate action.

The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions amplifies research and insights to answer complex climate change issues. We believe climate change is best solved through collaborative approaches to research and knowledge sharing. By taking a values-based approach, we bring diverse forms of expertise and knowledge together to contribute to lasting solutions. PICS is hosted and led by the University of

Victoria, in collaboration with Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Northern British Columbia.

🏡 Climate-Resilient Building Feature: Vancouver Coastal Health Staff Housing, Bella BellaBuilding climate-resilient hous...
08/25/2026

🏡 Climate-Resilient Building Feature: Vancouver Coastal Health Staff Housing, Bella Bella
Building climate-resilient housing has just as much to do with building techniques as it does building materials.

Completed in 2015, Vancouver Coastal Health’s staff housing in Bella Bella demonstrates how innovative construction techniques can help address the challenges of building in remote coastal communities with short construction seasons, limited labour availability, and high energy costs.

This project combines modular construction with passive house design principles to reduce energy and construction costs and create durable, comfortable housing that can withstand this community’s long, wet winters.

📖 Explore the Climate-Resilient Building Materials Viewbook for more examples and resources:https://ow.ly/XXKX50ZwKmk

Read more about this housing project in this informative PDF: https://ow.ly/vcug50ZwKmi

Have you or someone you know contributed to your community’s fire resilience? If so, we want to hear about it! Submit yo...
08/17/2026

Have you or someone you know contributed to your community’s fire resilience? If so, we want to hear about it! Submit your story to the crowd-sourced Fire Resilience Map and inspire others to take action.

🔗Access the map through the Community Planning chapter of the Fire Resilience Handbook: https://ow.ly/NSC750ZwJHs

The map can also be opened directly on Padlet: https://ow.ly/xnM450ZwJHt

🏡 Climate-Resilient Building Feature: Nk'Mip Desert Cultural CentreAs communities across BC face increasing climate-rela...
08/12/2026

🏡 Climate-Resilient Building Feature: Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre

As communities across BC face increasing climate-related hazards, the materials and methods we use to build homes matter more than ever.

The Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre demonstrates how rammed earth walls, passive design strategies, and locally sourced materials can contribute to climate resilience while reflecting cultural values and the surrounding landscape.

📖 Learn more in the Climate-Resilient Building Materials Viewbook
https://ow.ly/iF3B50ZwJnj

☀️This summer, between days at the beach, children and families can take small steps towards building community fire res...
07/29/2026

☀️This summer, between days at the beach, children and families can take small steps towards building community fire resilience.

The PICS-funded Building Rural & Remote Community Climate Resilience project created a Children’s Activity Booklet to help kids get involved in fire preparedness.

🔥We all have a role to play in developing fire resilience, and it’s never too early (or too late) to get started.

Project Website: https://ow.ly/V9HJ50Zli2a
Children’s Activity Booklet: https://ow.ly/X9m850Zli29

As​​ our climate changes, the way our houses are built must change too.🏡 From pit houses to modular homes, climate-resil...
07/24/2026

As​​ our climate changes, the way our houses are built must change too.

🏡 From pit houses to modular homes, climate-resilient building techniques can help rural and remote communities in B.C. prepare for climate hazards.

📖The Climate-Resilient Building Materials Viewbook shares practical tools, examples, and information about building techniques and housing solutions for rural and remote communities: https://ow.ly/CRE850Zlhgg

🏡 As communities face increasing risks of wildfires, flooding, storms, and extreme temperatures, the materials we use to...
07/15/2026

🏡 As communities face increasing risks of wildfires, flooding, storms, and extreme temperatures, the materials we use to build our houses matter more than ever.

🪵 Many commonly used building materials are not designed for the frequent hazards that come with our changing climate.

🔥 Building resilient housing means thinking beyond short-term costs and toward long-term safety, environmental sustainability, and value. Choosing the right building materials can help create homes that are better suited to B.C.’s varied local climates and future climate projections.

📖 Check out the Climate-Resilient Building Materials Viewbook for practical tools and information to explore resilient and sustainable housing solutions: https://ow.ly/3Imr50ZlgBv

Not all building materials are suitable for all climates. With B.C.’s vastly different climates, what may perform well i...
07/10/2026

Not all building materials are suitable for all climates. With B.C.’s vastly different climates, what may perform well in one region may not be the best choice in another.

Whether you’re building new or planning a retrofit, selecting materials suited to your local climate can help improve resilience to:

🔥Wildfires
⛈️Storms and Flooding
❄️☀️Extreme temperatures
🫨Earthquakes

The Climate-Resilient Building Materials Viewbook helps you explore sustainable, fire-resilient building materials options based on your region, climate risks, and sustainability goals.: https://ow.ly/ytzz50Zlgez

Not sure what hazard to prioritize in your community? ClimateReadyBC’s Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment page (https://ow.ly/IGcH50ZlgeA) and the BC Hazard Insight Tool (https://ow.ly/jyPB50Zlgew) provide more information on climate hazards.

It’s not all about the destination. The journey matters too. For the PICS-funded Building Rural & Remote Community Clima...
06/26/2026

It’s not all about the destination. The journey matters too. For the PICS-funded Building Rural & Remote Community Climate Resilience research project and their Community Fire Resilience Handbook, a values-based approach to research meant:

🤝Starting from the principle of shared responsibility and recognising interwoven systems with the potential to contribute to fire resilience.

🖍️Providing resources for everyone, including children.

🏃‍♀️Focusing on actionable, resource-oriented research outputs.

🗨️Seeking feedback directly from rural, remote, and Indigenous community members through the project’s partners at every step of the way.

Learn more and access the handbook here: https://ow.ly/QOG350ZaftR

Where would you go if you had to evacuate due to fire? Only 36% of Canadians can answer this question. Change that by ma...
06/18/2026

Where would you go if you had to evacuate due to fire? Only 36% of Canadians can answer this question.

Change that by mapping out and practising your evacuation route this week. It’s a simple step that doesn’t take long. Just like fire drills in school, an evacuation plan ensures you and others in your community know what to do in an emergency.

The Community Fire Resilience Handbook, developed by the PICS-funded Building Rural & Remote Community Climate Resilience research project, includes evacuation worksheets and other resources to help you get started.

Check it out at: https://ow.ly/3Jyj50Zafoy

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