Renforcer la résilience climatique des infrastructures canadiennes

The report identifies that Canada's physical infrastructure is the country's most significant climate risk zone, facing threats from extreme weather, permafrost degradation, and sea-level rise. It details specific vulnerabilities across transport, buildings, water, wastewater, maritime, and energy/ICT sectors, proposing a combination of structural modifications, improved monitoring, and nature-based solutions. The document evaluates federal initiatives like the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, while highlighting a significant infrastructure deficit, particularly for First Nations communities. It advocates for an integrated, whole-of-society approach that combines scientific data with Indigenous knowledge and diversifies financing through sustainable and risk-based investments.

• Canada faces a substantial infrastructure deficit estimated between 150 billion and 1 trillion Canadian dollars, with a specific deficit for First Nations infrastructure estimated at 25 to 30 billion Canadian dollars.
• Climate change impacts on built infrastructure are categorized into three main types: critical events (e.g., road collapses), compromised structural integrity (e.g., bridge scour), and reduced asset lifespan.
• Transport infrastructure is vulnerable to heat-induced pavement softening and rail buckling, as well as shortened ice road seasons in the North.
• Buildings face risks from permafrost degradation causing foundation instability, as well as roof collapses due to increased snow loads.
• Water supply systems are threatened by reduced potable water sources during droughts and the rupture of underground pipes due to permafrost thaw.
• Wastewater and stormwater systems risk capacity overflow from intense precipitation and reduced disinfection efficiency due to higher water temperatures and lower flows.
• Maritime infrastructure is susceptible to coastal erosion and flooding from sea-level rise and storm surges, while the Arctic region faces increased demand for ports as sea ice decreases.
• Energy and ICT infrastructure risks include power line failure from winter storms, overheating of data centers during heatwaves, and transmission tower displacement due to permafrost thaw.
• Natural infrastructure solutions, such as salt marshes, urban forests, and green roofs, are often more cost-effective than exclusively 'grey' infrastructure and provide co-benefits like carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection.
• The federal government utilizes the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF) to finance large-scale built and natural infrastructure projects of at least 20 million Canadian dollars.
• The Investing in Canada Plan (ICP) includes a green stream that supports infrastructure projects enhancing structural or natural capacity to adapt to climate change.
• The National Research Council Canada's Climate Resilient Buildings and Core Public Infrastructure (CRBCPI) initiative develops science-based tools and updated codes to improve construction resilience.
• Effective climate resilience requires an integrated, whole-of-society approach that combines interdisciplinary professional practice with Indigenous knowledge systems.
• Financial mechanisms for resilience are expanding to include green bonds and risk-based investments, though only 3% of green bonds issued in Canada from 2014 to 2019 were specifically for adaptation.

APA

Swanson, D., Murphy, D., Temmer, J., & Scaletta, T. (2021). Renforcer la résilience climatique des infrastructures canadiennes. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-08/climate-resilience-canadian-infrastructure-fr.pdf

Chicago

Swanson, Darren, Deborah Murphy, Jennifer Temmer, and Todd Scaletta. Renforcer la résilience climatique des infrastructures canadiennes. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-08/climate-resilience-canadian-infrastructure-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Swanson |first1=Darren |last2=Murphy |first2=Deborah |last3=Temmer |first3=Jennifer |last4=Scaletta |first4=Todd |title=Renforcer la résilience climatique des infrastructures canadiennes |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=July 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-08/climate-resilience-canadian-infrastructure-fr.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{swanson2021renforcer, author = {Swanson, Darren and Murphy, Deborah and Temmer, Jennifer and Scaletta, Todd}, title = {{Renforcer la résilience climatique des infrastructures canadiennes}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-08/climate-resilience-canadian-infrastructure-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }