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

What’s new?

National Climate Adaptation Summit Day

The unprecedented severe weather events in 2023 have demonstrated the immediate need to protect Canadians from the devastating impacts of climate change. That’s why urgent action is needed now to fully fund and implement Canada’s first National Adaptation Strategy.

To better protect Canadians from climate-related threats, including wildfires, floods and extreme heat, the federal government needs to invest at least $5.3 billion annually in the National Adaptation Strategy over the next six years.

To help guide federal investment, Climate Proof Canada has developed a series of recommendations that will drive progress on specific targets from the NAS and enable Canada to become more climate resilient, protecting our communities and the economy. A range of immediate actions that do not require additional budgetary investment has also been identified.

The recommendations include driving progress in four key areas:

The full set of climate adaptation recommendations were shared during National Climate Adaptation Summit Day in Ottawa on November 2, 2023. The event brought together members of the Climate Proof Canada Coalition with cabinet ministers and key members of opposition parties in Ottawa.

Learn more about National Climate Adaptation Summit Day and the recommendations below.

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.

 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.