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The report estimates that CAD 346.6 million is provided annually via national grants for natural infrastructure in Canada, with CAD 98.4 million reaching the Prairie provinces from combined federal and provincial sources. It finds that while conservation is a common objective in funding programs, the majority of actual spending is directed toward restored ecosystems (57%) and engineered systems (41.1%), with conserved ecosystems receiving only 1.7% of funding. The Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF) is identified as the only fund explicitly targeting natural infrastructure projects.

The document outlines the importance of monitoring water retention projects in the Prairies to ensure they meet specifications and to track long-term performance. It emphasizes that monitoring water quantity and quality helps optimize sites for climate adaptation and multiple benefits, including flood mitigation, drought resilience, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon storage. The guide aims to demystify the technical requirements of monitoring by reviewing equipment and analysis methods based on IISD's experience.

The document outlines a framework for monitoring water retention projects in the Prairies, emphasizing the need for water and contaminant mass balances to evaluate performance. It details a range of monitoring tools—from low-cost metre sticks to expensive automated samplers—and explains how to use rating curves to estimate discharge. The guide highlights the importance of high-frequency data to capture rapid hydrologic events and suggests using monitoring data to develop hydraulic and water-quality treatment models for improving future site design and management.

The report assesses the economic impact of natural infrastructure in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, estimating that the sector supported over 58,500 jobs and contributed CAD 7 billion to GDP in 2022. It projects that additional annual investments of CAD 40 million to CAD 100 million could increase direct employment by 18% to 26% and direct GDP by 10% to 16% by 2030, enhancing climate resilience against floods and droughts.

The report establishes a statistical framework for the natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies, dividing it into watershed management, municipal natural infrastructure, education/training, and regulatory/public administration. Using 2022 as a baseline, it projects that a 'Stretch Growth' scenario involving CAD 100 million annual investment would increase total jobs in the region to 73,420 and total GDP to CAD 8.2 billion by 2030.

The document details the proceedings of the 2022 IISD Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics, focusing on the Canadian Prairies. It argues that while natural infrastructure (NI) is essential for water management, a lack of standardized metrics and economic valuation tools hinders its large-scale adoption. The report outlines a framework for scaling NI through improved data sharing, regional watershed-scale planning, the integration of Indigenous knowledge via 'Two-Eyed Seeing', and the use of economic valuation tools like SAVi to engage municipal decision-makers.

The executive summary advocates for a shift from traditional 'grey' water infrastructure to natural infrastructure in the Canadian Prairies to combat climate vulnerabilities and infrastructure deterioration. It highlights the region's significant loss of wetlands and the need for policy and funding reforms to support nature-based solutions.

The report finds that while natural infrastructure (NI) efforts in the Canadian Prairies are nascent and often fragmented as site-specific pilots, there is growing momentum to use conserved, restored, or engineered ecosystems to meet water infrastructure needs. Grey infrastructure remains the default choice due to a lack of standardized valuation tools, limited municipal capacity, and a policy environment that often prioritizes resource development over restoration. The document highlights the critical need for watershed-scale collaboration, the integration of Indigenous knowledge and rights, and the mobilization of diverse capital—including private finance and endowment funds—to bridge the infrastructure gap and address climate-induced risks like floods and droughts.

The natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies contributed over CAD 4.1 billion to GDP and employed over 33,000 people directly in 2022. In Manitoba, the sector directly employed over 5,700 people and contributed over CAD 540 million to the provincial economy in 2022. Investment scenarios for Manitoba suggest that annual investments of CAD 10 million or CAD 25 million could increase direct jobs by 8% to 21% and direct GDP by 7% to 17%. Similar growth potentials are identified for Alberta and Saskatchewan, where natural infrastructure is viewed as a means to bridge water infrastructure gaps and increase resilience against floods, droughts, and wildfires.

The document highlights the economic value of natural infrastructure in the Canadian Prairies, noting that in 2022, the sector directly employed over 33,000 people and contributed over CAD 4.1 billion to the region's GDP. In Saskatchewan specifically, the sector directly employed over 5,800 people and contributed CAD 640 million to the provincial economy in 2022. The report argues that increased annual investments—such as CAD 10 million or CAD 25 million in Saskatchewan—could significantly boost direct jobs and GDP while addressing water infrastructure gaps and increasing resilience against climate impacts like floods, droughts, and wildfires.

The document highlights the economic contributions of natural infrastructure in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, noting that the sector provides jobs and GDP growth while increasing resilience to climate-related weather extremes. In Alberta specifically, the sector directly employed over 21,000 people and contributed CAD 2.9 billion to the provincial economy in 2022. The report argues that increased annual investments—such as CAD 20 million or CAD 50 million in Alberta—would further drive job creation and GDP while addressing water infrastructure gaps and buffering against floods, droughts, and wildfires.

The document details findings from various water retention sites in the Canadian Prairies, highlighting the effectiveness of small dams and ponds in reducing peak flow and phosphorus. It emphasizes the need for better monitoring, the potential for nutrient reduction optimization, and the challenges of producer adoption due to land devaluation perceptions.

The 2022 Canadian Prairie Water Retention Monitoring and Modelling Workshop, hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), convened experts to discuss the optimization of water retention systems. Key outcomes include an agreement on the necessity for more comprehensive monitoring in the Canadian Prairies and the identification of spectral sensors as a tool for advancing monitoring and modelling. The workshop featured nine presentations, including a valuation of ecosystem services in Manitoba's Stephenfield Reservoir and Pelly's Lake, a pilot project for adaptive monitoring on the Winnipeg River using high-frequency sensors, and a demonstration of targeting 'hotspots' for environmental benefits in Manitoba's agricultural regions.

The report examines the intersection of climate change and agriculture in the Canadian Prairies, highlighting that the region contributes 64% of Canada's agricultural emissions. It identifies critical risks such as flooding, heat waves, and invasive pests, while arguing that beneficial management practices (BMPs) can improve economic viability and reduce emissions if supported by increased public investment and policy changes.

The report examines the intersection of climate change and agriculture in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. It highlights that while the Prairies are warming faster than most of Canada, leading to increased risks of drought, flooding, and pests, the agricultural sector also contributes significantly to national emissions, particularly through nitrogen fertilizer and livestock. The authors argue that current federal and provincial policies lack concrete sectoral targets and comprehensive strategies, recommending a shift toward agroecology, reinstated public extension services, and targeted financial incentives for beneficial management practices to ensure long-term viability.

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.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) argues that Canada's post-COVID-19 economic recovery should prioritize decarbonization to protect human health and ensure economic stability. The report outlines a path to net-zero emissions by 2050, projecting that meeting climate targets would save approximately 112,000 lives between 2030 and 2050 due to air quality improvements and increase clean jobs from 210,000 in 2020 to 1.5 million by 2050. Key recommendations include legislating a net-zero 2050 target, decarbonizing electricity and transit by 2040, and transitioning buildings and healthcare to net-zero by 2050. The report also emphasizes the health risks of fossil fuel investments, the need for a just transition for workers, and the importance of nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and mental health.

The document identifies distributed water harvesting (DWH) as a means to build agricultural resilience in the Canadian Prairies against temperature increases and precipitation changes. It notes that because individual DWH projects often require less than CAD $1 million, they are ineligible for certain traditional Canadian infrastructure financing. Consequently, the text proposes the use of green and climate bonds, highlighting the associated ecosystem service co-benefits.

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.

The report proposes an Agricultural Water Security Market (AWSM) for southwestern Manitoba to mitigate potential water shortages caused by climate change and industrial demand. Under this model, the oil and gas sector would purchase water quantity offsets by funding the creation of water retention sites, which enhance regional water security through groundwater recharge and increased surface water access.