Adaptation Governance in Canada

The report identifies that Canada's federal adaptation governance is currently 'weak' and fragmented, primarily operating at the director general level with limited connection to senior decision-makers. It argues that the upcoming National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) provides a critical opportunity to revitalize this structure. The authors suggest several options for improvement, including establishing a dedicated DM-level committee for adaptation, creating a formal legal mandate through legislation, and developing a specialized knowledge-brokering unit. The report emphasizes that success depends on sufficient funding, senior-level leadership, and a deeper understanding of the distinct characteristics of adaptation compared to climate mitigation and emergency management.

• Current federal adaptation governance is characterized as 'weak' and fragmented, with a lack of formal channels to bring adaptation issues to senior levels of government beyond the director general level.
• Climate adaptation is often overshadowed by climate mitigation efforts, partly due to a lack of understanding among senior political and bureaucratic leaders regarding its complexity and iterative nature.
• The report proposes establishing a new Deputy Minister (DM)-level committee exclusively for climate adaptation to raise its profile and provide strategic oversight for the NAS.
• To ensure permanence and accountability, the report suggests embedding adaptation governance in legislation, such as by amending the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.
• A dedicated knowledge-brokering unit is recommended to facilitate the exchange of formal and tacit knowledge across departments and support capacity building.
• The report identifies a need for a strengthened adaptation secretariat, potentially modeled after the Climate Plan Implementation (CPI) secretariat, to manage day-to-day coordination and track progress.
• The report suggests that an external accountability mechanism, similar to the UK's Climate Change Committee, would provide greater legitimacy and independent monitoring of progress.
• Effective governance requires addressing the fundamental differences between adaptation, mitigation, and emergency management, as adaptation is an iterative process tailored to local circumstances with fewer quantifiable indicators of success.

APA

Parry, J.-E., O’Keefe, S., & Hammill, A. (2022). Adaptation Governance in Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-05/adaptation-options-canada.pdf

Chicago

Parry, Jo-Ellen, Sarah O’Keefe, and Anne Hammill. Adaptation Governance in Canada. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2022. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-05/adaptation-options-canada.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Parry |first1=Jo-Ellen |last2=O’Keefe |first2=Sarah |last3=Hammill |first3=Anne |title=Adaptation Governance in Canada |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=December 2022 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-05/adaptation-options-canada.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{parry2022adaptation, author = {Parry, Jo-Ellen and O’Keefe, Sarah and Hammill, Anne}, title = {{Adaptation Governance in Canada}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-05/adaptation-options-canada.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }