Climate change has a significant impact on the water cycle and sea levels, resulting in long-term and extreme weather events like flooding, increased precipitation and droughts. To address water-related risks and vulnerabilities worsened by climate change, communities from coast to coast to coast are adapting their infrastructure design and planning processes.

Your municipality needs reliable climate data and projections to effectively adapt to local climate challenges. To help you make sense of climate data, our Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) partnered with the Canadian Center for Climate Services (CCCS) to develop a series of five case studies to explore how small and medium sized municipalities used data to improve their resilience. In the case studies, you’ll discover:

  • The importance of climate data
  • How to integrate existing climate data as you develop different types of plans
  • Ways to access and track local data for the benefit of your entire municipality
  • Essential climate data portals local governments can access to find local climate projections
  • Examples of how municipalities across Canada are responding to past and future climate impacts that jeopardize their communities
  • Resources relating to identifying climate vulnerabilities in your community
  • The role climate data plays in identifying risks and developing adaptation strategies

Grand Forks, British Columbia: Strengthening flood resilience

Find out how the City of Grand Forks is using climate data and state of the art flood models to guide their resilient recovery following significant flooding in 2018.

L’Islet, Quebec: Developing a community climate action plan

Learn about the community’s approach to identify how the climate hazards they are facing will change into the future, and how they are preparing.

Saint John, New Brunswick: Adapting to floods and storm surges

Read about Saint John’s concurrent community and infrastructure climate risk assessments, and how the city is working to safeguard citizens and services.

Quinte Conservation, Ontario: Enhancing community drought resilience

Discover how a conservation authority is pairing climate projections and condition monitoring to identify and prepare for drought conditions, and what the 18 involved municipalities will do when identified thresholds are exceeded.

Windsor, Ontario: Integrating climate change adaptation into municipal planning

Learn about Windsor’s approach to mainstreaming climate change into decision-making across the organization by implementing a council report climate lens.

Who is this case study series for?

This case study series was developed for municipal staff in small and medium sized communities who have positions as asset managers, climate change staff, engineers, planners and water/stormwater coordinators.

What’s next
Resources to help you to continue your community’s adaptation journey.
Elbow bump
Talking it through: Guide for local government staff on climate adaptation

Do you need help having climate conversations in your municipality? Check out our Talking it Through guide. This resource was created to help municipal staff talk to decision-makers.

Business team analyzing income charts
Video series: Climate in focus

Watch our video series to develop a core understanding of climate action in Canadian municipalities. You’ll also discover climate approaches and resources that can help your community reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate impacts.

Government of Canada (ECCC) and FCM logo

This suite of tools was created for the Municipal Climate Services Collaborative (MCSC), a joint initiative of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Canadian Centre for Climate Services (CCCS).

The MCSC draws on the expertise of local governments, Provincial and Territorial Associations and expert organizations representing each region of Canada to develop resources that facilitate the use of climate information local government decision-making.

Government of Canada logo

This resource was developed by the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (2017-2022). This program was delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.

For more information on climate action funding, resources and training, please visit FCM’s Green Municipal Fund. For more information on asset management and climate resilience grants, training and resources please visit FCM’s Municipal Asset Management Program.

© 2024 Federation of Canadian Municipalities