Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity

This report, commissioned by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and authored by the Delphi Group, analyzes the economic contributions and growth potential of the natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). It quantifies current jobs and GDP and models future growth based on different public investment scenarios to strengthen the business case for nature-based water solutions.

• In 2022, the natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies directly employed 33,454 people and contributed CAD 4.1 billion to the region's GDP. When including indirect and induced economic activity, the sector supported 58,553 jobs and contributed CAD 7 billion to the GDP.
• Alberta is the primary economic driver of the sector in the region, accounting for approximately 65% of direct jobs and 71% of direct GDP generated by natural infrastructure across the Prairies. In 2022, Alberta's sector directly employed 21,823 people and contributed CAD 2.9 billion to the provincial GDP.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2023). Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-11/natural-infrastructure-prairie-prosperity.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity. 2023. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-11/natural-infrastructure-prairie-prosperity.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity |date=November 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-11/natural-infrastructure-prairie-prosperity.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2023natural, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Natural Infrastructure and Prairie Prosperity}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-11/natural-infrastructure-prairie-prosperity.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }