On B.C.'s Sunshine Coast, climate change is changing the region in surprising ways, especially considering it’s nestled in a rainforest.

In five of the last eight summers, the region has experienced drought and severe water restrictions. In 2022 it got so bad, The Sunshine Coast Regional District declared a local state of emergency. It’s the first time that’s been done in Canada because of drought. Politicians were worried that there wouldn’t be enough water for the hospital or to fight fires. Businesses had to shut down, farmers lost crops and the crisis has left deep divisions over who gets the water in times of drought. 

In her documentary, Drought in the Rainforest, CBC docmaker Liz Hoath visits the region to find out about the lasting damage left by the droughts and find out what’s being done to prepare for the dry summers ahead. It’s a story that experts say other parts of the country need to pay attention to because it’s bound to happen again. 

Produced by Liz Hoath and Joan Webber/ originally aired on What on Earth

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit