We need to act now to fully fund and implement Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

What’s new?

2024 National Climate Adaptation Summit Day

For the second year in a row, Climate Proof Canada is hosting a National Adaptation Summit and calling on the federal government to fund its National Adaptation Strategy.

On October 22, members and supporters of Climate Proof Canada will meet with cabinet ministers and members of the opposition parties in Ottawa to discuss Climate Proof Canada’s recommendations and urge immediate funding for the government’s National Adaptation Strategy. Climate Proof Canada’s ultimate goal is to help defend Canadians from the increasing risk of frequent and severe climate perils such as wildfires, floods and extreme heat.

This year, Climate Proof Canada revised its recommendations for resilience, focusing on the following four areas: 

1. Building resilient infrastructure and communities

2. Enhancing Indigenous resilience

3. Enhancing disaster Resilience

4. Community health and well-being

National Adaptation Strategy

On June 27, the federal government officially released the country’s first National Adaptation Strategy and the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan. Climate Proof Canada welcomes the announcement and celebrates the completion of this world-leading strategy document.

Climate Proof Canada actively supported the development of the National Adaptation Strategy, and advocated for the inclusion of targets to address the growing effects of climate change and build a more disaster-resilient country.

Learn more about Climate Proof Canada’s response to the announcement and what’s next here.

Federal Budget

In March, the Government of Canada released its 2023 Federal Budget. The budget demonstrated the federal government’s commitment to building on the National Adaptation Strategy with new investments to better protect and inform Canadians at highest risk of flooding and modernize the federal disaster assistance to better adapt to climate change. Learn more here.

Celebrating Achievements in Resilience: Climate Proof Canada Launches Inaugural Community Resilience Recognition

Climate Proof Canada’s Community Resilience Recognition luncheon was held at the National Climate Adaptation Summit luncheon on October 22. The program acknowledges impactful examples of communities adapting to climate change, led by municipal and Indigenous governments. Climate Proof Canada will plant a tree in the local community as a gesture of appreciation of their contribution to climate resilience.

The recognition luncheon was generously sponsored by Intact Financial Corporation and in partnership with ICLEI Canada and the Canadian Cattle Association.

2024 Community Resilience Recognition Recipients:

City of Beaconsfield

In recognition of the project:

Connecting Beaconsfield

In the category of:

Resilient Health and Well-being

The City of Beaconsfield is leading the Connecting Beaconsfield project which aims to increase the sense of belonging and closeness in the community in an effort to build local climate resilience. Based on a survey conducted by Connecting Beaconsfield in 2023, about half of Beaconsfield residents know the names of six of their immediate neighbours. This project aims to increase the sense of neighbourliness to help residents come together in times of extreme weather. In collaboration with a network of local and regional partners, the City implemented a series of pilot initiatives over the summer of 2024, analyzed the results and will implement permanent interventions based on that analysis.

Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement

In recognition of the project:

The Climate Change Resiliency Action Plan

In the category of:

Enhancing Indigenous Resilience

Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement, with support from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre, completed a Climate Change Resiliency Action Plan. Located in the northwest corner of the province bordering the Peace and Hay River Basins, the population of Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement population is approximately 800, with many more calling it home. Climate change poses an acute and increasing threat to the natural environment, community morale and integrity of the Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement with the widespread impacts of the 2019 Chuckegg Creek wildfire continuing to resonate for community members.

Conserving the land and building resilience to future climate impacts is necessary to sustain traditional land uses into the future. By developing this Climate Resiliency Action Plan, the Settlement is taking steps to address climate change and ensure the community, including their residents, culture, and land, is prosperous and resilient against climate change. 

The plan was developed through a community workshop where youth, Elders, and community residents shared their personal experiences of witnessing extreme weather and climate impacts; their concerns for the changing climate; and their hopes for the community related to the revitalization of natural areas, youth involvement, economic opportunity, and climate adaptation. The Action Plan summarizes these responses and identifies possible solutions.   

Halifax Regional Municipality

In recognition of the project:

HalifACT: Acting on Climate Together

In the category of:

Economic Resilience

As of the 2022/23 Budget, a Climate Action Tax was established in Halifax to implement the Strategic Initiatives of their community climate action plan, HalifACT. The tax is being used to leverage climate action funding from the private sector, federal and provincial governments, providing the necessary investment for the successful implementation of HalifACT into the future.

Funds from the Climate Action Tax directly support HalifACT in acquiring electric vehicles and buses, constructing net-zero buildings and leading projects that improve the resiliency of communities and infrastructure.

City of Hamilton

In recognition of the project:

Ken Soble Tower Transformation

In the category of:

Resilient Housing

The City has chosen to transform the Ken Soble Tower to meet EnerPHit Certification, a branch of the prestigious Passive House standard tailored for building retrofits. This ambitious project will grant residents superior comfort and control over their indoor environments, along with enhanced resilience to future extreme climate events. Moreover, it will contribute to Canada’s climate change objectives and showcase the enduring financial benefits of cutting operational and maintenance costs.

Dufferin County

In recognition of the project:

The Hurricane Clip Rebate Program

In the category of:

Disaster Resilience and Emergency Management

There are many examples across Ontario of communities that have been hit by tornadoes in recent years including Kinburn, Ottawa in 2018, Hawkesville in 2017 Angus in 2014, Goderich in 2011 and Durham to Blue Mountain in 2009. In all cases roofs were ripped off. The Ontario Building Code does not require Part #9 buildings (houses, additions etc.) to be fitted with hurricane clips. Dufferin County has implemented a Hurricane Tie Rebate Program across the community, by off-setting the cost of hurricane clips and construction projects Dufferin County is helping to preventatively mitigate local disasters, protecting home and business-owners and reducing the impact of severe weather.

City of Saskatoon

In recognition of the project:

Flood Resilience Initiatives

In the category of:

Resilient infrastructure

The City of Saskatoon is exploring a variety of flooding resilience initiatives including above-ground stormwater management complements the existing underground storm sewer system, supplementing the capacity of the existing system to handle more severe rainfall events. Above-ground measures are aimed at slowing the overland runoff into the stormwater system, thereby reducing the peak flow and increasing the level of storm the system can handle without backup or flood and managing the flow of water across the urban landscape, reducing hazards caused by flooding or ponding in low-lying areas. In areas without underground stormwater sewers, the measures improve the functioning of the existing overground (ditch and culvert) system in a similar way.

Measures include bioswales, improved and vegetated drainage ditches, low impact design (e.g. increased permeable surfaces), dry ponds, culverts, and naturalized plantings. These measures are intended to be implemented in a systematic, strategic approach that works together to increase the functioning of the stormwater system within a given geographic area, rather than small one-off improvements.

 Resources

2024 Federal Budget Submission

This submission outlines Climate Proof Canada’s recommendations for the National Adaptation Strategy Action Plan for the pre-budget consultations in advance of the federal budget.

National Climate Change Adaptation Summit Recommendations - Full Report

This report outlines recommendations from Climate Proof Canada on how the Federal Government can make rapid, tangible progress on implementing Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

National Climate Change Adaptation Summit Recommendations - Summary

This infographic includes a summary of the recommendations from Climate Proof Canada on how the Federal Government can make rapid, tangible progress on implementing Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

MANAGING FLOODING AND EROSION AT THE WATERSHED-SCALE: GUIDANCE TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENTS USING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

This paper recommends 1) development of consistent provincial approaches to integrated watershed management, 2) direction of funding for river flood management to high-risk watersheds and 3) routine consideration of nature-based solutions for river flood and erosion management.

CANADIANS WANT GOVERNMENT ACTION ON CLIMATE ADAPTATION

Canadians support climate adaptation and want to see action from governments to protect them from the natural disasters they are already experiencing, according to a poll commissioned by Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A NATIONAL ADAPTATION STRATEGY: CHECKLIST

This checklist was developed by Climate Proof Canada to help evaluate Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy (NAS). It can be used to assess if the NAS lays out the necessary steps to reduce climate-related risk and protect people in Canada from harm in the face of climate change.

IISD REPORT 

The International Institute for Sustainable Development and Insurance Bureau of Canada partnered on a report called Towards a National Adaptation Strategy for Canada: Key insights from global peers. This report outlines the key issues and considerations that should inform the development of Canada’s first national adaptation strategy.

THE COST OF CLIMATE ADAPTATION

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Insurance Bureau of Canada partnered on a report that demonstrates the urgent need for new investments in local climate adaptation – and the areas where that investment is needed most.

FLOODING IN CANADA 

Insurance Bureau of Canada has extensive resources on flooding in Canada.

CANADIANS WANT GOVERNMENT ACTION ON SEVERE WEATHER

Buildings need to be part of Canada’s climate adaptation strategy

Retrofits play a role in not only decarbonizing buildings, but adapting them for increasingly extreme weather. In order to ensure the climate-resilience of Canada’s privately owned homes and buildings, they need to be explicitly included in the National Adaptation Strategy.