Canada Will Invest $1.6 billion CAD in National Climate Adaptation Strategy
Canada is already feeling the repercussions of climate change. With more consistent flooding, stronger storms, and higher temperatures causing heat waves and wildfires, the Canadian government is fully aware of the impact of these catastrophes on their people and economy. Today, the Canadian government anticipates a financial loss that will reach around $15 billion CAD by 2030 as a result of increased damages caused by worsening weather conditions. This forecast has urged them to initiate a national climate adaptation strategy.
After almost two years of preparation, Canada’s National Climate Adaptation Strategy was released at the end of 2022. In this article, you’ll learn how the strategy was created and what its five main goals are.
Background Information: A Summary of Canadian Climate Action Plans
Full Report: Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy: Building Resilient Communities and a Strong Economy (Government of Canada, Nov 2022).
Canada’s National Climate Adaptation Strategy
Canada’s National Climate Adaptation Strategy was released on November 24, 2022, after almost two years of preparation. The strategy was developed in two phases. Phase 1 established the strategy’s structure, which contains long- and medium-term adaptation and transformation goals, while Phase 2 focused on consultations with the public, partners, and stakeholders, as well as expert analysis of the Canadian government’s goals before the release of their finalized adaptation strategy for climate change.
Here’s a brief summary of Canada’s National Climate Adaptation Strategy.
- Canada’s National Climate Adaptation Strategy aims to reduce the anticipated $15 billion CAD loss resulting from climate change’s impacts. The government aims to accomplish this by strengthening federal policies and investments to make Canada more climate resilient as it deals with the consequences of climate change, such as wildfires, heatwaves, floods, and more.
- In 2021, the Canadian federal government started building the plan by collaborating with several provinces, municipalities, and indigenous organizations to create a strategy that will cover and benefit everyone in the country.
- In November 2022, after engagements with various partners, stakeholders, and the public, the Canadian government finalized and released the National Climate Adaptation Strategy with a proposed budget of $1.6 billion CAD. The plan focuses on five major goals:
- Building more resilient infrastructure
- Creating healthier communities
- Enhancing biodiversity and environmental conservation
- Creating a more resilient economy and workers
- Strengthening disaster resiliency and security
- After the strategy’s release, collaborators on the National Climate Adaptation Strategy, such as various provinces and indigenous organizations, were given three months to provide their feedback for the finalized strategy.
- The $1.6 billion CAD investment for Canada’s new national adaptation strategy will also add to Ottawa’s federal budget for adaptation and resilience efforts, which amounts to more than $8 billion CAD today.
- The all-new Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan outlines how the federal government will take action to address climate change. This adaptation action plan follows the five major goals of the National Climate Adaptation Strategy.
While the National Climate Adaptation Strategy has already been finalized and released, the Canadian Climate Institute (CCI) believes that it still needs more constructive details and clear processes, particularly for its action plans. Ultimately, time will tell whether the National Climate Adaptation Strategy is effective in reducing climate change’s impacts in Canada.
Source: CTV News/THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service
Source: James Anderson/Canadian Geographic
Sources:
“Canada to invest C$1.6 bln in first national climate adaptation strategy” Reurters, Nov 24, 2022
“Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy: Building Resilient Communities and a Strong Economy” Government of Canada, Nov, 2022
Canada is already feeling the repercussions of climate change. With more consistent flooding, stronger storms, and higher temperatures causing heat waves and wildfires, the Canadian government is fully aware of the impact of these catastrophes on their people and economy. Today, the Canadian government anticipates a financial loss that will reach around $15 billion CAD…