Enhancing resilience to climate change

In Canada and abroad, the effects of climate change are becoming evident. Impacts such as flooding; wildfires; coastal erosion; thawing permafrost; increases in heat waves; droughts; ecosystem changes; and risks to critical infrastructure; and food and water security are already being felt in Canada and globally. So, we need to adapt – make adjustments in our activities and decisions in order to reduce climate risks, moderate harm or take advantage of new opportunities.

For example, we know that Canada will experience extreme weather events more frequently, like the forest fires and flooding of 2023, in many areas of the country including areas where services are delivered and where many public servants live. We need to ensure that Canadians still have access to government services, programs and initiatives during those kinds of events.

Under the Greening Government Strategy federal government departments have committed to enhancing the climate resilience of their critical services and activities by 2035. To facilitate this, departments will review and update (if necessary) their climate risk assessments at least every five years and take measures to reduce identified significant risks. The assessments should:

• be aligned and/or integrated with existing departmental risk assessment or business continuity management activities
• include the consideration of all departmental services and activities, focusing on those identified as critical
• include an implementation plan to reduce identified significant risks
• support the Minister of Finance’s reporting requirement in accordance with section 23 of the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act

Departments will also strengthen support for enhancing climate resilience through guidance, tools, and training for public service employees.

It is also important that the Government’s Real Property and Procurement are climate resilient.

For more information on what Canada is doing to better adapt to and prepare for the impacts of climate change, see Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.

For the Canadian Council of Academies report identifying the top climate change risks facing both Canada and the federal government, and their relative significance, see Canada’s Top Climate Change Risks.

For more information about how and why Canada’s climate has changed and what changes are projected for the future, see Canada’s Changing Climate Report.

For climate data, visit ClimateData.ca, an information portal that enables Canadians to access, visualize, and analyze climate data, and provides related information and tools to support adaptation planning and decision-making.

For more information about climate change impacts and adaptation across different regions and sectors in Canada, visit Climate Change Publications (nrcan.gc.ca).