Climate Change Adaptation and Canadian Infrastructure

The report examines how climate hazards—such as permafrost degradation, sea-level rise, and extreme weather—threaten Canadian infrastructure, including transportation, buildings, and water systems. It finds that while significant economic costs are already being incurred and research is extensive, policy and regulatory responses remain nascent and investment decisions are not yet substantially driven by adaptation needs. The document details regional vulnerabilities and explores enabling factors such as updated building codes, insurance incentives, and industry-led sustainability initiatives to strengthen long-term resilience.

• Climate change significantly threatens the lifespan and effectiveness of Canadian infrastructure, particularly in the water management, marine, building, and transportation sectors, with economic costs expected to rise.
• In Northern Canada, the thawing of permafrost is a primary concern, causing soil subsidence that damages building foundations, pipelines, and transportation networks, sometimes rendering buildings uninhabitable.
• Coastal infrastructure on both the East and West coasts is vulnerable to rising sea levels and storm surges; over 80 percent of Canada's coastline is submerging, leading to property and wastewater treatment damage.
• The Prairie region faces dual risks of water scarcity in Alberta and Saskatchewan due to rising temperatures, and excess moisture and flooding in Manitoba.
• Aging infrastructure is a major vulnerability factor, with 50 percent of existing public infrastructure estimated to reach the end of its service life by 2027.
• Despite the availability of research, most Canadian adaptation policies and regulatory changes are in early stages, and investment decisions are not yet primarily driven by the need to reduce climate vulnerability.
• The Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) Protocol was developed to assess engineering vulnerability, but its uptake among Canadian engineers has been limited, with only 3 percent reporting use or intent to use it.
• The insurance industry can incentivize adaptation by adjusting premiums, deductibles, or coverage based on the use of construction materials and practices that exceed standard building codes.

APA

Boyle, J., Cunningham, M., & Dekens, J. (2013). Climate Change Adaptation and Canadian Infrastructure. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/adaptation_can_infrastructure.pdf

Chicago

Boyle, Jessica, Maxine Cunningham, and Julie Dekens. Climate Change Adaptation and Canadian Infrastructure. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2013. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/adaptation_can_infrastructure.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Boyle |first1=Jessica |last2=Cunningham |first2=Maxine |last3=Dekens |first3=Julie |title=Climate Change Adaptation and Canadian Infrastructure |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=November 2013 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/adaptation_can_infrastructure.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{boyle2013climate, author = {Boyle, Jessica and Cunningham, Maxine and Dekens, Julie}, title = {{Climate Change Adaptation and Canadian Infrastructure}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/adaptation_can_infrastructure.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }