Dr. Blair Feltmate

Blair is the Head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo. Previous positions he has held include Vice President, Sustainable Development, Bank of Montreal; Partner, Sustainable Investment Group/YMG Capital Management.  Blair has written textbooks on Sustainable Banking (University of Toronto Press), and Aquatic Ecology (CAB International). He is generally interviewed by the media 100 times per year.

He is a member of the Sustainable Finance Advisory Council, Global Risk Institute.  Blair is Chair, Adaptation Committee, Canadian Institute for Climate Choices (Environment and Climate Change Canada). He is on the Advisory Board, Climate Change, Minister of Environment (Ontario). He was Chair, Federal Government of Canada Expert Panel on Climate Adaptation; and, Chair, Electricity Transmission and Distribution Adaptation Standard, Canadian Standards Association. He is former Chair, Pollution Probe, and he was Chair, Sustainable Electricity Program, Canadian Electricity Association.

Blair was an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Waterloo.  He holds a Ph.D in Theoretical and Applied Ecology (University of Toronto), Master’s in Sustainable Development (Wilfrid Laurier University), Master’s in Zoology (University of Toronto), and Hon. Bachelor’s Biology (University of Toronto),

Keynote Topic

Weather Gone Wild: Is Canada Prepared for Climate Change?

Extreme weather risk, driven by a changing climate, is contributing to costly floods, fires, hail and wind storms across Canada.  Is Canada prepared?  Recognizing that climate change is irreversible, Canada must prepare for extreme weather or suffer the consequences.  This talk will emphasize Canada’s current state of preparedness for climate change, and the need to adapt quickly in anticipation of a more challenging future.

Protecting Your Biggest Asset and Retirement Plan: Home Flood Protection

The biggest cost to Canadians – by far – due to climate change is basement flooding.  Yet, most homeowners and renters remain oblivious to this risk until it’s too late, and they have a basement full of sewer water.  This talk spells out what any home owner can do to lower their risk of basement flooding, for very little money, with no special expertise, generally over a weekend.  Municipalities should promote home flood protection.

Climate Change and Corporate Due Diligence

Companies, boards of directors, and investors are increasingly worried regarding how they will lower their cost of carbon pricing and potential for stranded assets.  However, is this enough?  Are companies adequately preparing for the extreme weather risk that is on the ground today, and the bigger storms to come?  This talk spells out how corporations can self-examine to determine if they are at risk due to physical climate change, and if not, how they should prepare.