National Freshwater Science Agenda

Overview

Clean and safe freshwater sustains the environment, the economy, and human health and well-being. It is also an essential part of Canada’s national identity and the cultural well-being and sacred traditions of Indigenous people.

Environment and Climate Change Canada led the development of the National Freshwater Science Agenda: A report on national freshwater science priorities (Science Agenda), which builds on the Synthesis of Freshwater Science in Canada discussion paper published in 2024.

The Science Agenda identifies national freshwater science priorities while providing regional perspectives to reflect the differences between drainage basins and watersheds across Canada. Informed by science experts, knowledge holders, and science users from across the country, the Science Agenda helps focus the attention of the freshwater science community and lay the groundwork to collectively advance freshwater science in Canada in a more coordinated and collaborative way.

National freshwater science priorities

National freshwater science priorities are organized in the Science Agenda under six separate but interconnected themes:

Bridging, braiding and weaving Indigenous science and knowledge systems
Water availability
Land use stressors and water pollution
Freshwater ecosystem resilience and biodiversity
Socio-ecological and economic freshwater research
Freshwater decision-support science

The Science Agenda also identifies potential knowledge outcomes and science tools to advance the priorities.

Advancing the National Freshwater Science Agenda

The Science Agenda identifies what science is needed, rather than how it should be implemented. Advancing the science priorities will rely on collaboration and coordination across the entire freshwater science and knowledge community.

Continued engagement and dialogue to track the status of freshwater science priorities will ensure the Science Agenda remains relevant to decision makers across Canada.