Toward a National Adaptation Strategy for Canada: Key insights from global peers

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides recommendations for the development of Canada's first-ever National Adaptation Strategy (NAS). It analyzes adaptation planning trends globally and across 11 peer countries, evaluates Canada's existing domestic policy and institutional foundations, and proposes 13 considerations to ensure the NAS is inclusive, accountable, and effective in mobilizing federal action.

• Global trends show a steady increase in the adoption of national adaptation planning instruments, with 72% of countries having adopted at least one. However, this planning has not necessarily translated into accelerated implementation on the ground, partly due to a significant financing gap where resources do not keep pace with growing needs.
• A review of 11 peer countries reveals that legislative backing for adaptation is increasing, and policies are being iteratively updated rather than treated as one-off efforts. Most countries have codified institutional arrangements for coordinating adaptation action at national and interjurisdictional levels.
• While most reviewed national adaptation policies reference social inclusion and gender equality, very few integrate these issues throughout the entire policy. New Zealand is noted as an exception for placing these concerns at the heart of its efforts.
• Canada possesses a domestic foundation for its NAS consisting of the 2011 Federal Adaptation Policy Framework, the 2016 Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, and the 2020 'A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy' plan, alongside emergency management frameworks.
• There is a persistent policy and institutional silo between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Canada. The NAS is presented as an opportunity to bridge these silos by aligning strategies, operations, and technical capacities.
• To ensure the NAS drives action, the report recommends defining a clear role and purpose, establishing a recognized institutional driver with clear terms of reference, and creating an advisory and accountability mechanism to monitor progress.
• The report emphasizes that the NAS must advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples by co-developing the process with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leadership, incorporating Indigenous worldviews and knowledge, and addressing the structural drivers of vulnerability.
• A robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system is critical for the NAS. This should include a clear purpose, the use of specific adaptation targets to increase accountability, and a core set of indicators to track both process and outcomes.
• To avoid the 'implementation gap' seen globally, Canada should launch the NAS with an initial implementation plan, early financial commitments, and a visible early deliverable to maintain momentum.
• The report suggests Canada can lead globally by putting gender equality and social inclusion at the center of its approach, using Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) throughout planning and implementation to address intersectional vulnerabilities.
• The NAS should recognize the employment and labour impacts of climate change, specifically the need for 'just resilience' to protect workers in climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, fisheries, and tourism.
• The report recommends that the NAS elevate the role of nature-based solutions (NbS) and address international dimensions of climate risk, such as supply chain disruptions and migration flows, to reflect Canada's global integration.

APA

Hammill, A., Parry, J.-E., Ledwell, C., & Dazé, A. (2021). Toward a National Adaptation Strategy for Canada: Key insights from global peers. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/national-adaptation-strategy-canada.pdf

Chicago

Hammill, Anne, Jo-Ellen Parry, Christian Ledwell, and Angie Dazé. Toward a National Adaptation Strategy for Canada: Key insights from global peers. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/national-adaptation-strategy-canada.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hammill |first1=Anne |last2=Parry |first2=Jo-Ellen |last3=Ledwell |first3=Christian |last4=Dazé |first4=Angie |title=Toward a National Adaptation Strategy for Canada: Key insights from global peers |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/national-adaptation-strategy-canada.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hammill2021toward, author = {Hammill, Anne and Parry, Jo-Ellen and Ledwell, Christian and Dazé, Angie}, title = {{Toward a National Adaptation Strategy for Canada: Key insights from global peers}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/national-adaptation-strategy-canada.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }