The Canadian government is seeking public input to help finalize a national climate change adaptation strategy, scheduled for release this fall. A newly launched consultation process presents five action areas — disaster resilience, infrastructure, natural environment, economy, and health and wellbeing — identifies pressing priorities, sets objectives for 2030 and 2050, and summarizes the resources and expertise that have already been mobilized.
“The national adaptation strategy is central to our work in preparing for climate emergencies,” maintains Bill Blair, Canada’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness. “It will allow us to better assess the risks as we monitor, respond to and recover from extreme weather events, while building resiliency in communities right across the country.”
The public is urged to respond to a number of questions posed in a discussion paper, which sets out underlying principles and a proposed framework for the strategy. Individuals and organizations have until July 15 to submit comments via email or directly through an online portal, and they are also invited to send descriptions, photos and/or videos of their own efforts to prepare for, or adapt to, climate volatility.
“Adapting to the many impacts of our changing climate feels like fighting a two-front war,” says Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “We can and we must do both mitigation and adaptation — play both offence and defence — for a complete effort.”
While extreme events — such as 2021’s notorious trifecta of record-breaking heat, forest fires and flooding in British Columbia — arise quickly, the discussion paper also tallies a spate of chronic climate-related conditions that undermine the strength and durability of natural systems, human and species health, infrastructure and key economic sectors. For example, melting permafrost destabilizes infrastructure in the north; retreating glaciers deplete water resources in western Canada; and warmer seasons succour insect populations that damage crops and infiltrate the built environment.
Effective adaptation begins with recognizing this is occurring, then evading and finding ways to surmount impacts where possible, while preparing for those that cannot be avoided. The discussion paper extolls a systems-based approach to the five action areas, which brings a wide range of players together for collaborative problem-solving and incorporates learnings from academic, professional, technical and lived experience. Proposed objectives draw on insight and recommendations from five expert advisory panels aligned with each of the identified action areas.
Data is central to the exercise. Adaptation strategists will rely on up-to-date scientific information about climate behaviour, risk assessment tools and ongoing monitoring of emerging applicable information. Objectives will be tied to reporting and evaluation measures in order to monitor progress, and to identify successful practices and processes that could be replicated as well as outcomes that indicate that more support or a different approach is warranted.
Many of the proposed initial priorities reflect needs for baseline information, guiding regulations, human and technical resources and increased professional awareness. That includes: continued development and sharing of information to advise communities of risks of climate-related disasters; integrating resilience considerations into building codes, standards and certifications; and promoting climate-related risk assessment and disclosure in strategic planning and financial decision-making. Also tapped for quick rollout is an expanded network of trained responders and equipment for emergency situations, including climate events.
Discussion paper questions prompt readers to reveal their own priorities for climate response over the next five years, divulge how climate-related events and threats have affected them, and gauge their own safety, economic and health vulnerabilities, as well as potential access to supports.
