As an East Coast city, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada faces serious risks from climate change.

The projected one-metre rise in sea levels is by itself a big deal.

Factor in a storm surge event during a really high tide — a 20 to 50 percent probability by 2050 — and things get interesting.

Saint John’s newly approved Climate Change Adaptation Plan includes colour maps to show what neighbourhoods, evacuation routes and industrial zones would be under water in that scenario.

Such an event could damage more than 1,800 homes and businesses along with 157 industrial properties, including petroleum storage sites.

Does Saint John have a business case to fight against climate change?