National Adaptation Strategy: Monitoring & Evaluation Framework
On this page
- Introduction
- Measuring progress towards implementation
- Principles for monitoring and evaluation
- Monitoring and evaluation framework
Introduction
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is a critical part of the adaptation process, providing the information necessary to learn what is working and adjust the course of action. The National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) M&E framework tracks Canada’s adaptation progress. This framework is evergreen and will continue to be refined and improved on an ongoing basis to develop a better understanding of the state of resilience across the country. The NAS M&E framework provides a national-level view of adaptation that is neither exhaustive nor exclusive of other monitoring systems in various regions and sectors. This webpage presents the latest version of the NAS M&E framework, updated in 2026.
Measuring progress towards implementation
M&E is an important step to document progress in implementation, support transparency, enable learning and inform decision-making. The NAS M&E framework establishes a mechanism to regularly review and evaluate progress on the NAS, and to understand which adaptation actions are working and where adjustments to plans and priorities should be made. This framework is iterative and intended to be updated as new information, priorities, and challenges emerge. Over time, consistent M&E will ensure that policy and program development are built on achievements and lessons learned.
This first update to the NAS M&E framework includes indicators to measure progress towards the targets outlined in the Strategy. Results are reported in the NAS Progress Report (2026). Given the broad nature of climate change impacts, the framework represents data and information from across sectors to capture a more complete picture of adaptation progress.
Ongoing efforts to develop the M&E framework will continue as new indicators, partnerships, and data collection methods, including qualitative and other ways of knowing, are explored. Future updates to this framework may include metrics to assess climate hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity. Measuring equity outcomes is also important to ensure that communities who face greater risks and barriers to adaptation are benefitting from adaptation interventions. Continued collaboration with partners will be essential to developing new and meaningful national indicators and building a better understanding of climate resilience in Canada.
Principles for monitoring and evaluation
The following principles were used to develop and continue to inform updates to the NAS M&E framework:
Informed decision-making. The framework tracks progress in implementation of the NAS, as well as supporting broader learning objectives. Results support evidence-based decision-making regarding adaptation actions and future policy development.
Data diversity. Process and output indicators help monitor the implementation of the NAS. Outcome indicators help measure changes in resilience at the national level. While quantitative indicators allow for consistent comparisons of data, qualitative metrics in the NAS Progress Report, such as case studies, will enable a more holistic picture of on-the-ground climate change impacts and adaptation.
Equity and inclusiveness. Climate change does not impact everyone equally. Disaggregating indicators by equity factors can highlight gaps and contribute to informed decisions that support all people in Canada. In addition, the framework presents opportunities to highlight Indigenous climate leadership and knowledge systems, while recognizing Indigenous data sovereignty.
Efficient resources. Using relevant existing data enables the rapid deployment of indicators, avoids duplicative efforts, and helps align the framework with other national priority areas. New and improved data collection methods will continue to be explored and integrated to fill knowledge gaps.
Meaningful indicators. Not all available data are relevant or applicable. Prospective indicators have been and will continue to be evaluated according to their relevance to the NAS, accessibility, ease of interpretation, and data accuracy.
Iterative approach. Effective monitoring and evaluation of adaptation at the national level requires flexibility and ongoing improvement. Indicators will be updated as relevant, new data becomes available. Results will be published as part of the NAS Progress Report, and, in turn, will inform the development of future strategies and objectives.
Monitoring and evaluation framework
Disaster resilience
Goal: Communities and all people living in Canada are better prepared to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the hazards, risks and consequences of disasters linked to the changing climate; the well-being and livelihoods of people living in Canada are better protected; and overall disaster risks have been reduced, particularly for vulnerable sectors, regions, and populations at greater risk.
Objective 1: There is a measurable reduction of people in Canada impacted by acute and slow-onset climate-related hazards, with due consideration to how vulnerable communities can better access resources and support systems.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of Canadians who are aware of risks facing their household |
By 2025, 60% of Canadians, including northerners and Indigenous Peoples, are aware of the disaster risks facing their household |
The indicator measures progress over time in Canadians’ awareness of climate change risks that may require their action to adapt, using survey data obtained through annual representative polling samples. |
The indicator measures the percentage of Canadians who are aware of risks facing their household, since this indicator already has a baseline, we can communicate trends on this metric. Awareness of risk supports taking action on adaptation. The indicator anticipates respondents’ responses on awareness of risk incorporating climate change which would provide a basis for the next step – taking action to adapt to climate change. |
Public Safety Canada (Public Safety Canada Departmental Plan) |
Percentage of Canadians who have taken measures to respond to risks facing their household |
By 2025, 50% of Canadians have taken concrete actions to better prepare for and respond to climate change risks facing their household |
The indicator tracks progress over time in the percentage of Canadians taking action to adapt to climate change risks, using survey data obtained from annual representative polling samples. |
The indicator measures the percentage of Canadians who have taken measures to address risks facing their households. Since this indicator already has a baseline, we can analyze and communicate trends on this metric. The polling gathers respondents’ input on whether they have taken measures to prepare their households for weather-related emergencies or natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, tornados, and in this way serves as a proxy for indications of adaptive behaviour to climate change. |
Public Safety Canada (Public Safety Canada Departmental Plan) |
Objective 2: Effective, efficient, and accountable governance mechanisms are established for stronger disaster risk reduction coordination through a whole of society approach.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of times the Indigenous Emergency Management Working Group has met to address distinction-based priorities related to EM and, where possible, climate adaptation to promote disaster resilience |
By 2025, a federally-led table that includes federal, provincial, and territorial governments and Indigenous partners has engaged regularly to align and coordinate emergency management adaptation activities to promote disaster resilience |
The indicator is intended to track progress toward federal engagement on distinction-based priorities related to EM and, where possible, climate change adaptation to promote disaster resilience. |
This indicator is based on the Terms of Reference of the Indigenous EM WG and would speak towards progress on the target by tracking the number of times the Indigenous/FPT table has engaged over a specified period time. Data collection would be done internally. |
Public Safety Canada (Indigenous Emergency Management Working Group) |
Objective 3: All communities are able to implement timely and successful emergency response plans that are readily accessible to everyone in the event of a disaster.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of at-risk communities who report having developed a wildfire community prevention and mitigation plan and are considered “FireSmart Ready” |
Communities, including northern and Indigenous communities, in zones of high risk, as identified by provinces and territories, develop wildfire community prevention and mitigation plans by 2030, with up to 15% implemented by 2028 |
The indicators seek to measure resilience of at-risk communities to wildfires by tracking their reporting of the development of wildfire community prevention and mitigation plans and the extent of adoption of those plans at the local level as percentage of the total. Indicator data will be based on reporting from funding recipients (provinces and territories) through the Resilient Communities through FireSmart program, limited to communities identified as at-risk for wildfires by provinces and territories that have developed wildfire plans and implemented projects in association with funding from Natural Resources Canada. |
Wildfire prevention and mitigation plans improve a community’s ability to prepare for and respond to wildfires. As more communities across the country develop and implement these plans, overall resilience to wildfire threats increases. As collection commences, we will be able to assess a baseline and then measure our progress to achieve the results set out in the target. |
Public Safety Canada, Natural Resources Canada (Natural Resources Canada) |
Percent of at-risk communities that have developed a wildfire community prevention and mitigation plan who have adopted local level prevention and mitigation measures |
Communities, including northern and Indigenous communities, in zones of high risk, as identified by provinces and territories, develop wildfire community prevention and mitigation plans by 2030, with up to 15% implemented by 2028 |
The indicators seek to measure resilience of at-risk communities to wildfires by tracking their reporting of the development of wildfire community prevention and mitigation plans and the extent of adoption of those plans at the local level as percentage of the total. Indicator data will be based on reporting from funding recipients (provinces and territories) through the Resilient Communities through FireSmart program, limited to communities identified as at-risk for wildfires by provinces and territories that have developed wildfire plans and implemented projects in association with funding from Natural Resources Canada. |
Wildfire prevention and mitigation plans improve a community’s ability to prepare for and respond to wildfires. As more communities across the country develop and implement these plans, overall resilience to wildfire threats increases. As collection commences, we will be able to assess a baseline and then measure our progress to achieve the results set out in the target. |
Public Safety Canada, Natural Resources Canada (Natural Resources Canada) |
Objective 4: National, provincial, territorial, and regional readiness, mitigation, and recovery plans and policies integrate the latest evidence informed by risk and resilience assessments as well as local and Indigenous knowledge and are inclusive of the whole of society.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of targeted high-risk areas covered by current flood hazard maps made available on Open Maps or provincial portals |
By 2028, the federal government, provinces, and territories have worked collaboratively to prioritize at least 200 higher-risk flood areas for new flood hazard maps / regional level modelling, and have taken evidence-based risk mitigation actions in accordance with scientific guidance |
The indicator measures progress achieved on improving the availability of current flood maps for targeted high-risk areas, that have been mapped under the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program with eventual publicly available information. |
This indicator measures the percentage of targeted flooding high-risk areas which have a publicly available flood hazard map. It speaks towards progress on prioritizing the publication of flood hazard maps for high-risk areas and disseminating this detailed information to help inform adaptation measures. |
Public Safety Canada (Natural Resources Canada (via the Inventory available on Open Maps and provincial portals)) |
Number of communities covered by flood maps produced under the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program |
By 2028, the federal government, provinces, and territories have worked collaboratively to prioritize at least 200 higher-risk flood areas for new flood hazard maps / regional level modelling, and have taken evidence-based risk mitigation actions in accordance with scientific guidance |
Number of communities covered by up-to-date or new flood maps, including those both in and out of targeted higher risk areas. |
This indicator similarly measures number of communities with flood hazard information that may also include those communities with yet-to-be published flood hazard maps. Once published, these maps can help inform mitigation/adaptation, or emergency management plans and measures. |
Public Safety Canada (Natural Resources Canada) |
Objective 5: People affected by disasters face minimal disruptions to lives and livelihoods, and are presented with possible long-term housing solutions within a reasonable period of time.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Completion of the 4 DFAA modernization milestones: Completion of the DFAA review; DFAA redesign and development, including the new Terms and Conditions; Completion of the DFAA Guidelines; and launch of the new DFAA by 2025 |
By 2025, complete the modernization of the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements to incentivize disaster risk reduction and improve recovery outcomes from large-scale disasters |
The indicator measures progress in the review and modernization of the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements, including the introduction of new Terms and Conditions that incentivize disaster risk reduction and improve recovery outcomes from large-scale disasters. The indicator specifically focuses on large-scale natural hazard disasters, whose increased frequency and severity are directly impacted by climate change, focusing on all jurisdictions of government in Canada, benefiting individuals, small businesses and communities, and supporting the rebuilding of more resilient public infrastructure. |
This metric is important in measuring progress on climate change adaptation because the modernized Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) include new requirements that: increase investment in restoring homes and infrastructure beyond existing standards and codes to ensure greater resilience against future disasters; provide greater flexibility to invest in strategic mitigation and disaster risk reduction (particularly for property and infrastructure located in identified high-risk areas); and a new Disaster Risk Reduction incentive that credits recipients for pre-disaster investments in risk reduction that help reduce the impact and costs of future disasters. The modernized DFAA also provides enhanced and more long-term relief and supports to people, with consideration to the needs of different sub-populations, including vulnerable individuals and communities. By promoting an all-of-society approach to disaster response and resilience, the modernized DFAA will help reduce disaster risk and cost over the long-term, enabling communities to better cope with, and adapt to the impacts of climate change. |
Public Safety Canada (Public Safety Canada) |
Publication of the National Recovery Strategy and its indicators |
By 2028, a national recovery strategy is developed which sets out shorter timeframes for displaced individuals to be able to return to their homes or resettle after climate change disaster events |
1. A set of national recovery indicators is published that establishes mechanisms to measure progress towards recovery and recovery outcomes. 2. A National Recovery Strategy is published that sets out recovery principles, roles and responsibilities, and timelines for recovery activities. |
Establishing a National Recovery Strategy and a set of associated indicators are metrics important to adaptation because they establish a common understanding and approach across Canada about how to recover from disasters (including climate-related ones) in a way that effectively supports the people affected while also leveraging opportunities to increase resilience and reduction risk going forward. Recovery indicators outline how Canada will measure recovery outcomes to determine if the approaches taken to recovery are having the desired effect in supporting people and reducing risk. |
Public Safety Canada (Public Safety Canada) |
Health and well-being
The scope of the health and well-being framework focuses on the inputs, processes, and outputs of health sector adaptation, as well as climate-sensitive health outcomes and their impacts on health systems. This includes measures of the health system resources that make adaptation possible, the assessments, plans, and actions that are delivered as a result of adaptation activities, and the real-world changes or benefits that occur to people’s health or the health system because of adaptation. This framework, like the NAS M&E framework overall, does not include indicators of hazards, exposures, vulnerabilities, future changes in the climate and health risks, or other contextual factors. This framework is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive of all monitoring and evaluation efforts, indicators, or data on climate and health adaptation across the country and should be interpreted with this limitation in mind.
The development of this framework was informed by domestic and global frameworks, indicators, and best practices in monitoring and evaluation of climate and health adaptation. This included Canada’s Quality of Life and Sustainable Development Goal frameworks, the World Health Organization operational framework and measurement framework for climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems, the Global Goal on Adaptation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. It also included consideration of the approaches and indicators used by other countries and Canada’s provinces and territories to monitor and evaluate climate change and health adaptation.
This framework brings together indicators of climate and health adaptation that are measurable based on data available at the national level. This includes, but is not limited to, measures of federal action on climate change and health, as outlined in the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan. Where possible, this also includes measures of adaptation action by other actors within the health sector, to reflect the whole-of-society spirit of the NAS and its M&E framework. However, this is limited by the complexity of Canada’s health system, where health data is stored across many different organizations, rendering the measurement and reporting of national-level progress challenging. As a result, measures of health sector adaptation in service delivery or facility-level infrastructure, as well as individual actions to adapt to health impacts associated with climate change, are missing from this framework.
Where possible, this framework includes downstream health system and population health outcome indicators that represent the cumulative effects of whole-of-society action. These types of distal adaptation outcomes and impacts are influenced by many factors across society and sectors, and should not be interpreted as the success or failure of any one program. For example, the number of extreme heat event deaths is influenced by adaptation actions in the health sector, but also adaptations in other sectors, human behaviour, underlying vulnerabilities, and climate change itself. For some climate-sensitive health system or population health outcomes, no indicators were identified that were measurable via data sources or reporting structures available at the national level. This includes indicators that measure progress toward protecting people from elevated levels of food-related chemical hazards, foodborne pathogens, and impacts to traditional foods, as well as from floods, cold temperatures, and other climate-related health risks that impact people across the country.
Goal: The health of all people in Canada is safeguarded and supported by a climate-resilient and adaptive health sector that has robust and agile systems and services that account for and support the diverse components of well-being.
Objective 1: Health systems have the expertise, knowledge, and resources needed to identify climate change-related risks and take equitable, evidence-based action to protect health.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of First Nations and Inuit communities covered by climate change health adaptation funded projects |
N/A |
This indicator measures the share of First Nations and Inuit communities that receive federal government financial support through the Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program. This indicator does not include Métis communities or First Nations and Inuit communities in British Columbia, Nunavik, or Nunatsiavut where health funding is transferred. It represents a range of climate change and health impacts. |
Climate change amplifies existing vulnerabilities and socio-economic inequities, with Indigenous communities experiencing disproportionate climate health impacts. This indicator reflects whether climate change and health adaptation resources are reaching those most severely affected, helping to reduce health inequities and supporting Indigenous health system actors to lead adaptation action. |
Indigenous Services Canada (Annual project reports) |
Percentage of First Nations funding recipients who agreed or strongly agreed that their climate change and health adaptation projects improved their community’s ability to adapt to climate change |
N/A |
The percentage of First Nations recipients of funding through Indigenous Services Canada’s Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program (CCHAP) who self-report as agreeing that their projects funded through CCHAP improved their community’s ability to adapt to climate change. |
This indicator reflects First Nations health system actors’ perceptions of their community’s ability to adapt to climate change. It provides an indication of the health system having the expertise, knowledge, and resources to adapt to climate change. |
Indigenous Services Canada (Annual project reports) |
Percentage of Inuit funding recipients who agreed or strongly agreed that their climate change and health adaptation projects improved their community’s ability to adapt to climate change |
N/A |
The percentage of Inuit recipients of funding through Indigenous Services Canada’s Climate Change and Health Adaptation Program (CCHAP) who self-report as agreeing that their projects funded through CCHAP improved their community’s ability to adapt to climate change. |
This indicator reflects Inuit health system actors’ perceptions of their community’s ability to adapt to climate change. It provides an indication of the health system having the expertise, knowledge, and resources to adapt to climate change. |
Indigenous Services Canada (Annual project reports) |
Percentage of medical schools with compulsory training on the health impacts of climate change |
N/A |
This indicator measures the proportion of accredited medical schools that include compulsory training on the health impacts of climate change in their curricula. It does not include the training programs of other health professionals, who play an important role in building the climate resilience of health system. |
A climate-smart workforce is an important part of building a climate-resilient health system. This indicator contributes to assessing the expertise, knowledge and (human) resources within the health system to address climate change. It reflects progress in building health workforce capacity to understand, anticipate, and respond to climate-related health risks, ensuring that future practitioners are equipped to integrate climate considerations into patient care and public health planning. |
Health Canada (Public Information) |
Number of new/enhanced systems and tools focused on climate-sensitive infectious diseases |
N/A |
This indicator measures the number of systems and tools to support information sharing, enhanced knowledge, understanding and action related to climate-sensitive infectious diseases by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) or through PHAC's Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund. |
Surveillance, monitoring and implementing evidence-based interventions are an important part of building a climate-resilient health system. This indicator reflects the development of systems and/or tools that support communities, organizations and people living in Canada to be better prepared to prevent and respond to the health risks associated with climate-sensitive infectious diseases and helps support informed decision-making, risk reduction, and community resilience. |
PHAC (Data collected through PHAC’s Infectious Disease and Climate Change Program.) |
Objective 2: Health authorities have identified the extent to which climate change is impacting health and have established methods for tracking future health impacts and evaluating progress towards protecting health and reducing risks.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of Canada’s population who live in an area where a health authority has completed a climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessment |
By 2030, health systems have identified risks, developed adaptation plans, and are measuring progress towards climate-resilience. |
This indicator represents the coverage of climate and health vulnerability & adaptation (V&A) assessments. It measures the proportion of Canada’s population who live in an area where a health authority has carried out a V&A assessment. |
Assessments of climate and health risks are an important part of building a climate-resilient health system. Assessments like V&As help health authorities to identify climate-related risks and vulnerabilities, develop evidence-based adaptation plans, and measure progress towards climate resilience. This indicator reflects progress toward part of the target: health systems having identified risks. |
Health Canada (Survey of health authorities and Statistics Canada Product 17100157 (numerator) and Statistics Canada Table 17-10-0005-01 (denominator)) |
Proportion of Provinces and Territories that have a health adaptation plan |
By 2030, health systems have identified risks, developed adaptation plans, and are measuring progress towards climate-resilience. |
The number of provinces and territories out of 13 that have developed health adaptation plans, including climate change strategies or adaptation plans with a health component. |
Climate-transformative leadership and governance is an important part of building a climate-resilient health system. This indicator reflects progress toward part of the target: health systems having developed adaptation plans, applied at the provincial/territorial level of health system governance. |
Health Canada (Survey of health authorities and review of public documents) |
Objective 3: People are protected from urgent climate-related health risks such as extreme heat, infectious diseases, wildfire smoke, foodborne hazards and impacts to traditional foods, poor mental health outcomes, and others.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of Canada’s population who live in an area where a health authority has implemented adaptations identified in a climate change and health vulnerability & adaptation assessment |
N/A |
This indicator measures the proportion of Canada’s population covered by the actions of health authorities that are informed by a climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation (V&A) assessment. It represents the coverage of evidence-based adaptation measures taken by health authorities to protect the health of people in Canada from urgent climate-related health risks. |
This indicator reflects whether evidence-based adaptation measures are implemented to strengthen the climate resilience of health systems and protect the health of people in Canada from urgent climate-related health risks. |
Health Canada (Survey of health authorities and Statistics Canada Product 17100157 (numerator) and Statistics Canada Table 17-10-0005-01 (denominator)) |
Percentage of health regions implementing evidence-based adaptation measures to protect health from extreme heat |
By 2026, 80% of health regions will have implemented evidence-based adaptation measures to protect health from extreme heat. |
This indicator measures the proportion of health regions that have implemented evidence-based adaptation measures to protect health from extreme heat. This means that 1) heat warnings have been issued AND 2) heat warnings are based upon health-protective criteria AND 3) heat-health risks are communicated to the public. |
Integrated risks monitoring and early warning systems are an important part of building a climate-resilient health system. This indicator reflects whether heat-health warnings and risk communications are implemented at the health region level to respond to extreme heat events and prevent associated heat-related morbidity and mortality. |
Health Canada (Information is gathered through scans of health region and P/T websites (social media) and interviews with key partners (e.g., Environment and Climate Change Canada, former Health Canada staff, health partners)) |
Percentage of Canada’s population who live in an area where a health authority has a heat alert and response system |
N/A |
This indicator measures the proportion of Canada’s population that is protected against the health risks of extreme heat events by a health authority’s heat alert and response system (HARS). HARS is defined as a coordinated set of actions and communication strategies designed to reduce health risks (including deaths due to extreme heat events) by warning the public and guiding responses during an extreme heat event. |
This indicator reflects whether actions are established to respond to extreme heat events and prevent associated mortality. |
Health Canada (Survey of health authorities and Statistics Canada Product 17100157 (numerator) and Statistics Canada Table 17-10-0005-01 (denominator)) |
Number of deaths classified as heat-related occurring during extreme heat events in Canada |
By 2040, deaths due to extreme heatwaves have been eliminated. |
This indicator measures the number of deaths per year classified as heat-related occurring during extreme heat events in Canada |
This indicator links mortality and meteorological data to quantify deaths occurring during extreme heat events. It supports the tracking of climate-related health risks and progress in improving health outcomes. Correctly interpreting this indicator requires careful consideration of broader environmental, social, and demographic trends. Changes over time can reflect the effectiveness of adaptation, but also changing weather patterns, improved diagnosis and reporting of heat-related deaths, and demographic changes. |
Health Canada (Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database (CVSD) and meteorological data from Environment and Climate Change Canada) |
Percentage of people covered by Air Quality Health Index risk communications |
N/A |
This indicator measures the proportion of people in Canada who live in an area where an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) forecast is available. It represents the coverage of AQHI. |
Integrated risks monitoring and early warning are an important part of building a climate-resilient health system. Access to information helps people avoid exposure to local air pollutants, including during wildfire events. |
Health Canada (Statistics Canada census data and Environment and Climate Change Canada Air Quality Health Index monitoring stations and modelling data) |
Extent of implementation of mental health and psychosocial support for climate-sensitive events |
N/A |
This indicator assesses the provision of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) by health authorities in the face of climate-sensitive events. |
Strengthening mental health responses is an important part of building a climate-resilient health system because climate change has been shown to adversely affect mental well‑being. This indicator reflects the implementation of adaptations to reduce the impact of climate change on mental and psychosocial health. |
Health Canada (Survey of health authorities) |
Canadians with same day or next day access to a health provider |
N/A |
The percentage of Canadians who reported being able to see a health provider on the same day or the next day in the past 12 months. |
Timely access to care protects people from a range of climate-related health risks that lead to increased healthcare needs. It ensures health systems and communities are better prepared to manage climate-related illnesses, prevent complications, and maintain resilience during climate-related events. This indicator reflects whether adaptation is translating into equitable, affordable, and continuous access health services. |
Statistics Canada (Survey on Health Care Access and Experiences — Primary and Specialist Care (SHCAE-PSC), Statistics Canada for 2024-25; Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), Statistics Canada starting 2025-26; and Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY), Statistics Canada) |
Objective 4: Climate action across all sectors promotes good health and prioritizes measures that have multiple benefits (e.g., protecting health and improving environmental sustainability).
Indicator |
Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Inclusion of climate-related health considerations in key built environment guidelines |
By 2030, consideration of health impacts and benefits are integrated into key climate change tools, guidelines and standards. |
This qualitative indicator captures how climate-related health considerations are incorporated into key built environment codes, standards, tools and other guidance documents. It represents how the infrastructure sector is considering health impacts and benefits when adapting to climate change. The indicator is limited to policy integration, rather than implementation. |
This indicator helps to assess the extent to which health-determining sectors consider health risks and benefits when adapting to climate change. Specifically, it reflects whether health is factored into the development of guidelines for climate-resilient infrastructure. |
Health Canada (Public documents) |
Nature and biodiversity
Goal: Biodiversity loss has been halted and reversed, and nature has fully recovered allowing for natural and human adaptation, where ecosystems and communities are thriving together in a changing climate, with human systems existing in close connection with natural systems.
Objective 1: Human activities are transformed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, and enhance ecosystem connectivity and resilience.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaption |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Changes in land use, such as from forests to croplands and settlements |
N/A |
The area of forest across Canada (excluding the territories) that has been converted to either cropland or settlement, and the area of cropland converted to settlement. |
Natural uses of land, such as forests, reduce the severity of some climate-related impacts. |
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators) |
Proportion of terrestrial and marine area conserved |
Conserve 25% of our lands and waters by 2025 and 30% of each by 2030, working to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada. |
The total percentage of terrestrial and marine areas in Canada that have been conserved, defined as the combination of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. |
Conserved areas help to maintain ecosystem services that, in turn, reduce the impacts of climate change on quality of life. |
Environment and Climate Change Canada (Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators) |
Number of ecological corridors identified and supported in Canada |
Recognize and support at least 3 ecological corridors by 2026, to improve ecological connectivity between protected and conserved areas. |
A count of the number of ecological corridors in Canada. |
Ecological corridors help to improve ecological connectivity between protected and conserved areas. While it is important to set aside areas of land and water for protection, it is also important to allow movement between and among such areas, just as it is important to build roads and railways between towns and cities. |
Parks Canada (National Program for Ecological Corridors) |
Objective 2: The ecosystems most affected by climate change are monitored, restored, and managed to ensure their continued viability and adaptive capacity.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Status of key fish stocks |
N/A |
The status (Healthy, Cautious, and Critical) of federally managed key fish stocks in Canada. |
As climate change continues to affect the temperature and chemistry of Canada’s oceans, sustainable fisheries and continued opportunities to harvest fish hinges on the status of key fish stocks. |
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators) |
Extent of Canada’s wetlands |
N/A |
A measure of the extent of Canadian wetlands and provides a baseline from which it will be possible to measure change. A wetland is defined as land that is saturated with water long enough to support aquatic processes as indicated by poorly drained soils, hydrophytic vegetation and various forms of biological activity that are adapted to a wet environment. Canada's landmass can be divided into 18 terrestrial ecozones and further divided into 215 terrestrial ecoregions. This indicator reports on the percentage of wetland found in each ecozone. Some areas may appear to lack wetlands as a result of gaps in data coverage rather than the absence of wetland features. |
Wetlands support a disproportionately high number of species (including species at risk) while reducing the impact of waves, droughts and floods. |
Environment and Climate Change Canada (Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators) |
Objective 3: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governments, organizations, and communities have the opportunities and means to pursue self-determined priorities for ecosystem stewardship initiatives to adapt to climate change.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Indigenous governments, organizations and communities engaged in Guardians initiatives |
By 2026, support new and existing Guardians initiatives, establish new Indigenous Guardians Networks, and support Indigenous communities to build capacity to establish more Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas. |
The number of Indigenous governments, organizations and communities engaged in Environment and Climate Change Canada-supported habitat conservation and protection initiatives each year, to support Indigenous rights and responsibilities in protecting and conserving ecosystems, developing and maintaining sustainable economies, and continuing the profound connections between natural landscapes and Indigenous cultures. |
Guardians are on the frontlines of stewardship initiatives that monitor species, habitats and climate change to prevent biodiversity loss. |
Environment and Climate Change Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada) |
Objective 4: The use of nature-based solutions is accelerated to increase resilience and maximize co-benefits such as reducing stress on grey infrastructure, increasing social benefits of nature, and climate change mitigation.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of tree canopy cover in urban areas (urban greenness) |
N/A |
The proportion of urban areas (with a population of at least 1000) in all regions of Canada, excluding the territories, that are covered by greenspaces, including tree canopy cover, parks, and other publicly and privately owned green spaces and features. |
Trees in cities, where the majority of people in Canada live, reduce the impact of extremes in temperature and precipitation, which are expected to worsen as the climate changes. |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada, Census of Environment: Urban greenness, 2025) |
Percentage of households with parks or green space close to home |
N/A |
The proportion of households across Canada – excluding the territories, Indigenous reserves and settlements, remote regions, and households that consist entirely of full-time Canadian Armed Forces members – within a 10-minute journey of a park or other greenspace. |
In temperate, urbanized regions of Canada, ready access to green spaces promotes physical and mental health and well-being through fitness, recreation, and natural cooling. |
Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada, Households and the Environment Survey, 2023) |
Number of national urban parks |
Designate 15 new national urban parks by 2030 to conserve nature, connect people with nature, and advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. |
A count of the number of national urban parks in Canada. |
Parks and greenspaces offer benefits to health and well-being. They provide services such as natural cooling and opportunities for recreation. Households with access to parks and greenspaces can enjoy such benefits and become more resilient to various impacts from climate change. This indicator measures the growth of a particular kind of park—the national urban park—that is meant to conserve nature, support climate resilience, connect people with nature, and advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. |
Parks Canada (Parks Canada) |
Infrastructure
Goal: All infrastructure systems in Canada are climate-resilient and undergo continuous adaptation to adjust for future impacts to deliver reliable, equitable, and sustainable services to all of society.
Objective 1: Technical standards, planning and decision-making processes have been updated or developed to embed climate change in all decisions to locate, plan, design, manage, adapt, operate, and maintain infrastructure systems across their lifecycle.
Indicator |
Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of updates to codes |
By 2026, additional climate change resiliency considerations are incorporated into 3 Canadian Codes. |
The indicator responds to the need for climate-adapted codes for infrastructure decision-makers to use in their planning, design, and implementation of natural and built infrastructure solutions. This indicator includes federal Canadian Codes, including the National Building Code of Canada, Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code and the Canadian Electrical Code. |
This indicator responds to the need to accelerate the publication of climate-adapted codes that require the use of future climate-oriented design data. Using climate-informed codes will support infrastructure decision-makers to ensure that what they build today can withstand current and future climate conditions. |
National Research Council (NRC - CRBE Annual Report, supplemented by internal reporting) |
Number of standardization strategies advanced that incorporate climate change considerations |
By 2030, robust guidance, codes and standards covering the top climate change risks for key public infrastructure systems are available to be adopted by all infrastructure decision-makers. |
The indicator responds to the need for climate-adapted guidance, codes and standards for infrastructure decision-makers to use in their planning, design, and implementation of built and natural infrastructure. |
Making climate-informed codes, standards and guidance available to infrastructure decision-makers is critical to ensure that what they build today can withstand current and future climate conditions. |
Standards Council of Canada (SCC - SSRIP Annual Report, supplemented internal program and/or corporate reviews and assessments) |
Number of new standards and guidance documents produced |
By 2030, robust guidance, codes and standards covering the top climate change risks for key public infrastructure systems are available to be adopted by all infrastructure decision-makers. |
The indicator responds to the need for climate-adapted guidance, codes and standards for infrastructure decision-makers to use in their planning, design, and implementation of built and natural infrastructure. |
Making climate-informed codes, standards and guidance available to infrastructure decision-makers is critical to ensure that what they build today can withstand current and future climate conditions. |
National Research Council (NRC - CRBE Annual Report) |
Number of updates to codes |
By 2030, robust guidance, codes and standards covering the top climate change risks for key public infrastructure systems are available to be adopted by all infrastructure decision-makers. |
The indicator responds to the need for climate-adapted codes for infrastructure decision-makers to use in their planning, design, and implementation of natural and built infrastructure solutions. This indicator includes federal Canadian Codes, including the National Building Code of Canada, Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code and the Canadian Electrical Code. |
This indicator responds to the need to accelerate the publication of climate-adapted codes that require the use of future climate-oriented design data. Using climate-informed codes will support infrastructure decision-makers to ensure that what they build today can withstand current and future climate conditions. |
National Research Council (NRC - CRBE Annual Report, supplemented by internal reporting) |
Objective 2: Public and private infrastructure decision-making is informed by system-wide assessments of, and planning for, current and emerging climate change risks.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of public and municipal organizations that factored climate change adaptation into decision-making processes for infrastructure |
By 2030, 80% of public and municipal organizations have factored climate change adaptation into their decision-making processes. |
This indicator is a count of urban and rural municipal organizations that factored climate change adaptation into their decision-making processes for infrastructure assets such as public transit, potable water, roads, and cultural facilities. |
Cities and towns are on the frontlines of climate change. By factoring adaptation into decisions about their assets, cities and towns can better prepare for climate change impacts and continue to provide the services that people expect. |
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and Statistics Canada (Canada’s Core Public Infrastructure Survey) |
Objective 3: Infrastructure decisions prioritize benefits for marginalized populations and communities at highest risk of climate change impacts.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of long-term drinking water advisories for public systems on reserve |
NA |
This indicator is a count of the number of long-term drinking water advisories in effect on public systems on reserves, which is defined as water advisories that have been in place for more than 12 months. This indicator is measured across Canada, excluding the territories. This indicator affects all First Nations communities on-reserve across Canada that are south of 60° latitude. |
This indicator directly aligns with the NAS objective that infrastructure decisions prioritize benefits for marginalized populations and communities at highest risk of climate change impacts. It is also an important consideration for capacity of communities on-reserve to prepare for the impacts of climate change. All people in Canada need access to safe drinking water. Climate change can affect the quality of drinking water, as well as the infrastructure that supports it. Inadequate capacity and resources to prepare drinking water infrastructure for the impacts of climate change puts communities on-reserve more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Drinking water systems need to be reliable. They also need to continue to work despite future changes in the climate. This indicator is linked to risk to health, water, and infrastructure. |
Indigenous Services Canada (Indigenous Services Canada) |
Progress towards this target is only reported narratively |
Government of Canada, in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis will continue to make immediate and long-term investments to support ongoing work to close the infrastructure gap by 2030. |
N/A |
N/A |
Indigenous Services Canada |
Objective 4: All new investments in infrastructure apply resilience criteria and adopt climate change guidance, standards, and future design data to maximize the long-term benefits of infrastructure outcomes.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of federal infrastructure funding programs launched or renewed since April 1, 2024, that have factored resilience to climate change impacts by design |
Starting in 2024, resilience to climate change impacts is factored into all new federal infrastructure funding programs. |
The indicator will measure progress towards all new federal infrastructure funding programs applying resilience criteria to maximize the long-term benefits of infrastructure outcomes. |
This indicator directly aligns with the NAS objective that all new investments in infrastructure apply resilience criteria and adopt climate change guidance, standards, and future design data to maximize the long-term benefits of infrastructure outcomes. As the largest funder of public infrastructure projects in Canada, the Government of Canada demonstrates leadership as an informed investor to ensure that its new investments support capital projects that are able to withstand current and future climate changes and deliver reliable, sustainable services in a changing climate. |
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (Internal program reporting) |
Economy and workers
Goal: Canada’s economy is structured to anticipate, manage, adapt, and respond to climate change impacts; and to actively advance new and inclusive opportunities within a changing climate, particularly for communities at greater risk, Indigenous Peoples, and vulnerable economic sectors.
Objective 1: The business case for adaptation is advanced through research and the knowledge is accessible, tailored, culturally appropriate, and useful.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of communities and businesses that have access to the information and tools they need to develop adaptation solutions |
By 2027, 80% of coastal communities and 60% of businesses located in coastal regions are implementing adaptation actions to increase climate resilience and reduce the economic impacts of climate change. |
The indicator measures the degree to which communities (municipalities) and businesses (defined as natural resource sectors) have access to information and tools necessary to develop adaptation solutions. Indicator data will be disaggregated to understand sectoral (mining, forestry, and energy) and regional (coastal, provincial/territorial) differences. This indicator will quantify what a successful business case for adaptation that is accessible, tailored, culturally appropriate, and useful knowledge and research looks like for coastal communities. To an extent, results for this indicator will represent whether communities and sectors in coastal regions are effectively assessing climate impacts, taking into consideration how to integrate that knowledge into their decision-making processes and looking for resources to help address them. |
This indicator will help measure progress on the business case for adaptation in coastal regions – access to knowledge and resources that are tailored, culturally appropriate, and useful will support the capacity of the coastal communities and businesses that support Canada’s economy to make evidence-based decisions and develop effective adaptation approaches. Understanding the percentage of coastal communities and businesses that report having access to information and tools needed to develop adaptation actions is critical to increasing the resilience of the Canadian economy and regional economies that rely on coastal communities and businesses. Coastal regions are an important component of the Canadian economy. In 2017, ports and marine shipping carried almost $90 billion (17 per cent) of Canada's exports to world markets and brought in $110 billion (21 per cent) of Canada's total imports by value. Climate change is projected to impose costs on Canada’s coastal regions. By 2050, annual damages from coastal flooding attributable to climate change could range from $1 to $8 billion. |
Natural Resources Canada (Natural Resources Canada Public Opinion Survey) |
Objective 2: Policy and financial instruments provide the right incentives and remove disincentives for proactive adaptation.
Objective 3: Canada has a skilled, diverse, and adaptable workforce that is supported by education, training, knowledge, and skills development to respond to future impacts and risks of climate change, including within Indigenous and northern economies.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of businesses in exposed sectors reporting they have access to capacity to apply climate change adaptation tools and information for adaptation decision-making |
By 2027, 70% of the members of relevant professional associations (e.g., civil engineers, planners, landscape architects, accountants, and others) have the capacity to apply climate change adaptation tools and information and communicate the business case for adaptation measures to their clients or target audiences. |
The indicator reflects the percentage of natural resource businesses and professionals that report having access to capacity, knowledge and skills to use and apply climate change adaptation data, tools and information in their decision-making and actions. The target provides a goal to increase climate change adaptation skills and expertise within professions, particularly those that serve climate-exposed sectors. |
Economic sectors need to assess their unique risks in order to increase their resilience to climate change, and businesses and communities need workers with the skills and knowledge to adapt. This indicator and the associated target will help track the degree to which key professions are upskilling and incorporating climate change considerations into their decisions and practices and are implementing adaptation action. Canada’s natural resource sectors and other businesses and communities exposed to the risks of climate change need a workforce that is knowledgeable and skilled in how to integrate climate change considerations into their practice and take adaptation actions. This metric will track the success of training and other upskilling strategies in establishing such a skilled adaptation workforce in Canada. |
Natural Resources Canada (Natural Resources Canada Public Opinion Survey) |
Objective 4: Economic sectors most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change routinely assess climate change impacts on the operating environment and incorporate adaptation considerations into decisions.
Indicator |
Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation |
Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of businesses that have been identified as being particularly exposed to climate change risk are addressing these risks, and any opportunities, into their business plans and strategies |
By 2027, 80% of highly exposed businesses include adaptation to climate change in plans and strategies in order to strengthen their competitiveness. Sectors at highest risk include forestry, agriculture, fisheries, energy, mining, transportation, and tourism. |
This indicator measures the degree to which businesses in some sectors are responding to the risks and opportunities associated with climate change within their plans and strategies. |
For the sectors most at risk of climate change impacts, it is important that all businesses incorporate adaptation considerations into their plans and strategies, thus this indicator helps measure progress on the near-term milestone that is the target. In some cases, impacts and adaptation are incorporated into planning and decision-making without explicitly referencing ‘adaptation’, so it is possible for metrics associated with this indicator to be underestimates of the true degree to which businesses are responding to the risks and opportunities associated with climate change. |
Natural Resources Canada (Natural Resources Canada Public Opinion Survey) |
Objective 5: Adaptation increases the resiliency and reliability of Canada’s supply chains in the face of climate change impacts which strengthens Canadian competitiveness and supports robust and sustainable economic growth.
Foundational elements
Governance and leadership
Objective 1: Effective governance for climate change adaptation is established and is inclusive of people who are disproportionately impacted by climate change.
Objective 2: First Nations, Inuit and Métis are prepared for and have the capacity to respond to climate change through self-determined adaptation actions that are grounded in their cultures, preferences, and community priorities.
Objective 3: Adaptation efforts improve social connections, reduce isolation, and support cultural practices and places to enhance overall community resilience to climate change.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage of people in Canada with strong sense of belonging to local community |
N/A |
The proportion of people in Canada who reported their sense of belonging to the local community as being somewhat strong or very strong. |
A strong sense of belonging leads to resilience against shocks and disruptions, including those related to climate change. |
Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada, Canadian Social Survey) |
Someone to count on |
N/A |
The proportion of the population by frequency with which they have people they can depend on to help them when they really need it. The surveys that measure this indicator ask respondents how often they can depend on people to help when needed and whether or not they have someone to count on in an emergency. This indicator measures social cohesion and connections. |
Social connectedness and having people to lean on when needed is an important marker of adaptive capacity and resilience. |
Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada, Canadian Social Survey) |
Objective 4: Innovative solutions, through exchange of best practices and cross-jurisdictional cooperation, enhance adaptation outcomes across the country and position Canada as a global leader in supporting climate resilience.
Knowledge and understanding
Objective 5: A robust evidence base for adaptation is in place through development, stewarding and sharing of existing and new data, knowledge (including Indigenous Knowledge and local knowledge), environmental and socio-economic analyses, and other ways of knowing.
Objective 6: Indigenous Knowledge Systems and science are fairly and sustainably invested in, and ethical and equitable engagement is upheld in adaptation knowledge co-production, in line with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, research protocols and data sovereignty.
Objective 7: Everyone in Canada is informed about climate risks and vulnerabilities. Available information is accessible, easy to understand, and designed for different audiences.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The number of individuals, businesses, and governments accessing climate services and using that information to inform decision making |
By 2024, over 180,000 people in Canada per year access climate services to support adaptation decision making. |
The number of persons and groups accessing climate services in a given year. Every five years, it measures the number of persons and groups using climate services for decision-making. |
In order for Canadian communities, economies, and ecosystems to become more resilient, accurate and reliable climate information needs to be available, accessible, and used to inform decision-making. Climate services are meant to provide such information in a variety of usable formats and for a diverse range of audiences. |
Environment and Climate Change Canada (Departmental Results Framework) |
Tools and resources
Objective 8: Everyone in Canada has equitable access to the tools and supports needed to prepare for, reduce, and respond to climate change impacts.
| Indicator | Target | Description | Relevance to Adaptation | Focal Point (Source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Indicators will be co-developed with partners over the long-term. In the interim, progress towards all northern and Indigenous communities having resources to develop, or have access to, culturally appropriate tools and information to address climate risks by 2030 will be narratively reported |
By 2030, all northern and Indigenous communities have resources to develop, or have access to, culturally appropriate tools and information to address climate risks. |
N/A |
N/A |
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada |
The number of Canadian mobile subscribers with access to public alerting through wireless service providers |
N/A |
Access to the CRTC National Public Alerting System, a federal, provincial, and territorial system that enables emergency management organizations across Canada to warn the public about imminent or possible dangers such as floods, tornados, fires, and other disasters. The system is also used for Amber Alerts and other urgent bulletins. |
Access to alerts during climate emergencies is foundational for emergency preparedness and resilience. |
Public Safety Canada (CRTC Annual Telecommunications Survey) |
Objective 9: Sustained, sufficient, and equitable public and private funding is in place to support adaptation to climate change.
Objective 10: Local, regional, and institutional capacity for adaptation contributes to self-sufficiency and participation in adaptation actions.