DUE NORTH: Facing the costs of climate change for Northern infrastructure

Northern Canada is warming three times faster than the global average, exacerbating a pre-existing infrastructure gap. Permafrost thaw, extreme weather, and sea level rise threaten runways, roads, and building foundations. The report argues that while early investments can reduce costs, incremental repairs are insufficient; transformative adaptations and a commitment to Indigenous self-determination are required to build resilient infrastructure.

• Northern Canada is experiencing warming at a rate three times faster than the global average, which intensifies existing infrastructure deficiencies through permafrost thaw, unpredictable ice and snow conditions, and more frequent extreme weather.
• Climate change is causing rapid damage to critical infrastructure across the North, specifically affecting building foundations, roads, and runways due to permafrost thaw, while warmer winters reduce the viability and safety of winter roads.
• Incremental adaptation measures are insufficient to address the scale of the problem because climate change is compounding long-term issues of neglect, underinvestment, and poor planning; therefore, transformative adaptations and a reimagining of service delivery are necessary.
• The report recommends four primary actions: dedicating new federal funding and restructuring programs for better accessibility, improving climate risk information for Northern decision-makers, prioritizing transformative 'leapfrogging' over simple repairs, and updating regulations and codes to account for severe climate impacts.
• Infrastructure vulnerability in the North is rooted in colonization and racism; consequently, all adaptation and development policies must be based on Indigenous self-determination and the principles of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Report.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (n.d.). DUE NORTH: Facing the costs of climate change for Northern infrastructure. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Executive-summary-Due-North.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. DUE NORTH: Facing the costs of climate change for Northern infrastructure. n.d. https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Executive-summary-Due-North.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=DUE NORTH: Facing the costs of climate change for Northern infrastructure |url=https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Executive-summary-Due-North.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitutenddue, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{DUE NORTH: Facing the costs of climate change for Northern infrastructure}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, url = {https://climateinstitute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Executive-summary-Due-North.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }