Climate Change Adaptation

Communities across Canada are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Some communities are facing increased drought, others more intense storm.  Shorter, warmer winters are leading to more coastal erosion and infrastructure damage as protective coastal ice is lost. Cities are also dealing with blights to their municipal tree lines as invasive pests, normally controlled by cold weather, are able to thrive. These impacts will cost cities millions of dollars and adaptation to these impacts will be equally expected.

Canada's infrastructure deficit is significant, climate change and associated infrastructure damage will increase it by shortening asset replacement cycles.

In Canada's north where impacts are most severe the deficit is expected to double. It is estimated that adapting buildings in the Northwest Territories alone could cost $230 million, more than $5,000 for every man, woman and child in the territories; Inuvik alone is facing costs of $140 million to repair buildings affected by the disappearance of permafrost. The economic impacts are also staggering as the loss of ice roads cost northern employers millions in transportation costs and further isolate Northern communities.

In their latest report Paying the Price: the Economic Impacts of Climate Change for Canada, the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy suggests that the economic impact on Canada could reach:

See their full report and executive summary.

Climate change adaptation could save Canadians billions of dollars and position our economy to provide solutions for a challenge that will face communities around the world.

FCM's participation in the development of Canada's new long-term infrastructure plan will be an opportunity for us to make climate resilience part of the future of Canada's infrastructure.