001-43_EJQR9_SUMMER26_PT - Flipbook - Page 17
THE WORLD IS IN A POLYCRISIS, according to Columbia University
professor Adam Tooze.
A scenario where multiple, distinct and interdependent crises—
including climate, health, 昀椀nancial, geopolitical—are occurring
simultaneously. The combined e昀昀ect being more severe than the sum
of the parts.
CITY OF VANCOUVER
Based on that line of reasoning, one could also argue that our cities
are also in a polycrisis. Or more speci昀椀cally, a climate polycrisis in
light of the fact that cities across Canada currently face a number of
slow emergencies as a result of global warming.
Currently, over 80 per cent of Canadians now live in cities which year
over year, have become heat traps. The 昀椀ndings of a recent University
of Winnipeg study puts this new reality into perspective. In the
summer, Vancouver has the highest daytime heat island intensity at
7.25°C, while Toronto has the highest nighttime intensity at 4.36°C.
And by 2050 Toronto’s number of days exceeding 30°C will increase
from the current 12 days per summer to somewhere between 31 and
80 days.
E N V I RON M E N T J OURN A L QUA RT E RLY RE PORT • S UM M ER 2 02 6 • P AGE 1 7
