Jeff Birchall, PhD, RPP, MCIP

Area of Study / Keywords

Local climate impacts climate adaptation resilience planning local governance

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About

I am an Associate Professor in the School of Urban and Regional Planning, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. I have broad research and teaching experience in climate/ environmental change and planning, and specific expertise in local governance, climate change adaptation, social vulnerability, health/ wellbeing, disaster risk reduction and sustainability. I have a range of academic and public sector experience, with an education that includes study in human geography (BA) and environmental planning (BES), and advanced study in climate change policy (MES) and sustainability (PhD). 

I am a registered professional planner through the Alberta Professional Planners Institute (RPP) and the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP).

I am the Director of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Lab (CARL) and serve as Lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Local-scale Planning, Climate Change and Resilience (https://www.uarctic.org/organization/thematic-networks/local-scale-planning-climate-change-and-resilience/) 

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Research

My research program, while grounded in community planning, is interdisciplinary in scope, and explores the broad theme of environmental resilience at the local scale.

My work on environmental resilience primarily examines local scale governance, and decision dynamics around motivational factors and extent of local planning for climate change risk reduction. Specifically, I am interested in localized environmental impacts (eg. weak shore-fast ice, permafrost thaw, erosion, flooding, wildfire) and how they affect critical infrastructure (eg. seawalls, roads, utilities, assets) and the built form (eg. land use, zoning), how this relates to planning decisions, and what this means for community well-being and safety. Research is largely driven by key actor and local stakeholder engagement, and includes site assessments and the examination of strategic planning documents. Ultimately, the aim of my research is the (co-) production of policy relevant knowledge/ outcomes, and translating theory into practice in a useful, locally informed way. 

PLAN 410 - Professional Planning Practice and Ethics

The professional practice of planning is covered including the role of planners in society and professional ethics for planners. Prerequisite: PLAN 310 or HGP 310. Not available for students with credit in HGP 410. Restricted to Planning Major and Planning Specialization students.

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PLAN 485 - Advanced Topics in Planning

Exploring planning theories in the context of contemporary events phenomena. Prerequisite or Corequisite: PLAN 310 or HGP 310. Variable content course which may be repeated if topic(s) vary.

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PLAN 500 - Planning for Resilient Cities and Regions

The role of adaptive and resilience oriented planning to contribute to the development of regions that can sustain themselves and prosper through change and uncertainty. Sections offered at an increased rate of fee assessment; refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations sections of the Calendar.

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PLAN 511 - Professional Practice and Ethics

The professional practice of planning is covered including the role of planners in society and professional ethics for planners. Sections offered at an increased rate of fee assessment; refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations sections of the Calendar.

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Browse more courses taught by Jeff Birchall

Started: 201805

Case studies include communities in Yukon (Haines Junction, Whitehorse, Dawson City), Alaska (Nome, Homer)

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Started: 201705

Case studies include communities in New Brunswick (Fredericton), Nova Scotia (Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Halifax), PEI (Charlottetown)

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Started: 201606

Case studies include communities in British Columbia (Cities: Victoria, Surrey, North Vancouver, Nanaimo; Regional Districts: Comox Valley, Nanaimo, Alberi-Clayoquot, Cowichan Valley)

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New international network on climate change led by UAlberta scientist

Filimonova, N., Birchall, SJ.

Journal of Environmental Management. 2024 October; 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123111

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Weissenberger, S., Birchall, SJ

Canadian Geographies. 2024 September; 10.1111/cag.12960

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Rose, D., Birchall, SJ.

Climate Policy. 2024 August; 10.1080/14693062.2024.2395920

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Zazula, N., Birchall, SJ.

Urban Ecosystems. 2024 May; 10.1007/s11252-024-01561-x

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Birchall, SJ., MacDonald, S., Bonnett, N.

Journal of Planning Education and Research. 2024 March; 10.1177/0739456X241242059

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Rose, Desiree; Birchall, S. Jeff

Canadian Geographies. 2023 December; 10.1111/cag.12894

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Birchall, SJ., Koleyak, D.

Elgar Encyclopedia in Urban and Regional Planning and Design. 2023 December; 10.4337/9781800889002.000026

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Muffly, J., Birchall, SJ.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 2023 September; 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103988

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Birchall, SJ, Kehler, S

Environmental Science and Policy. 2023 June; 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.05.017

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Kehler, S., Birchall, SJ.

Environmental Science & Policy. 2023 May; 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.05.012

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Birchall, SJ., Bonnett, N., Kehler, S.

Urban Climate. 2023 January; 10.1016/j.uclim.2022.101348

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Slater, T., Birchall, SJ.

Cities. 2022 September; 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103930

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S Jeff Birchall; Sarah Kehler, Nicole Bonnett

School of Public Policy Publications (University of Calgary). 2022 June; (Canadian Northern Corridor Special Series) 10.11575/sppp.v15i1.74463

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Kristof van Assche, S. Jeff Birchall, Monica Gruezmacher

Land Use Policy. 2022 February; 10.1016/j.landusepol.2022.106062

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Bonnett, N., Birchall, SJ.

Regional Studies. 2022 February; 10.1080/00343404.2022.2049224

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Birchall, SJ., MacDonald, S., Baran, N.

Urban Climate. 2022 January; 10.1016/j.uclim.2021.101062

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Kehler, S. Birchall, SJ.

Environmental Science & Policy. 2021 August; 10.1016/j.envsci.2021.07.025

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Fitton, J., Addo, K.A, Jayson-Quashigah, P-N., Nagy, G., Gutierrez, O., Panario, D., Carro, I., Seijo, L., Segura, C., Verocai, J.E., Luoma, S., Klien, J., Zhang, T-T, Birchall, SJ., Stempel, P.

Ocean and Coastal Management. 2021 June;

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Halabut, R., Birchall, SJ.

Canadian Geographer. 2021 April; 10.1111/cag.12702

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Birchall, SJ., MacDonald, S., Slater, T.

Urban Climate. 2021 April;

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Birchall, SJ, Bonnett, N

Cities. 2021 January; 108

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McDonald-Yale, E., Birchall, SJ

Landscape Research. 2021 January;

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Bonnett, N., Birchall, SJ.

Marine Policy. 2020 August;

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van Asshe, K., Duineveld, M., Birchall, SJ., Deacon, L., Beunen, R., Gruezmacher, M., Boezeman, D.

Space and Culture. 2020 July;

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Birchall

Marine Policy. 2020 February; 112 (Land and Sea Interaction Special Issue)

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MacDonald, S., Birchall, SJ.

Canadian Geographer. 2019 December;

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Birchall, SJ., Bonnett, N.

Environmental Hazards. 2019 July; 19 (2):157-170 10.1080/17477891.2019.1637331

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Birchall, SJ, Bonnett, N.

Environmental Planning and Management. 2018 October; 62 (13):2238-2254

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French, E.L., Birchall, S.J., Landman, K., Brown, R.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 2018 March; 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.11.001

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Birchall, SJ, Murphy, M, Milne, M.

Carbon Management. 2018 January;

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Birchall, SJ

Local Environment. 2017 January; 10.1080/13549839.2014.945404

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Birchall, SJ, Murphy, M, Milne, M

Qualitative Report. 2016 July; 10.46743/2160-3715/2016.2398

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Birchall, SJ, Murphy, M, Milne, M

Social and Environmental Accountability. 2015 July; 10.1080/0969160X.2015.1061444