The Town of Essex is writing a climate change adaptation plan.

Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Miller said the town is preparing for a climate that may be different 20, 40 or even 80 years from now.

The town has hired Josh Power, a University of Windsor environmental engineering major in his last year of school, to research what the future may hold for Essex.

The research should be done by Christmas, and town staff will write a plan next spring.

Miller said the town is already dealing with the effects of climate change.

“We’ve noticed over the last 15 or 20 years our winters are not as cold. We experience far more freeze and thaw throughout the winter,” he said. “As a result, there are far more potholes than there used to be. It’s almost impossible to keep up with them.”

Agricultural community to be helped

Miller said the plan will also include the agricultural community. He met with the Essex County Federation of Agricultural last week to inform it of the town’s plan.

“One of the biggest changes we’re going to have to deal with is storm drainage. Drains are just not adequate to deal with extreme storm events,” Miller said. “We need to find ways to reduce runoff into the lake. We need to store rain water to put back into fields.”

Miller believes in climate change, and admits he knows some people who do not. He said last week’s severe thunderstorms were an example of the changes the town will have to deal with on a more regular basis.

Miller called on national governments from around the world to work together at fighting climate change and reducing carbon emissions.

“It’s something a small town can’t do on its own,” he said.

The cost of the climate adaptation plan is $30,000. That includes the research portion being down by Power.

“It sounds like a fair bit of money, but if we can avoid very serious repercussions years from now, it’s a cheap investment,” Miller said.

The City of Windsor has a similar plan. Staff has been working on it for two years. It's cost the city $28,000 to date.