Search Climate Insights Directory

Climate change is making heatwaves in Canada more frequent, intense, and prolonged, with the country warming twice as fast as the global average. These events are linked to increased mortality, severe health risks, and the amplification of wildfires, such as the 2021 British Columbia heat dome. The economic burden is significant, with projected annual costs of $3 billion for health-related deaths and quality of life losses by mid-century, alongside billions in infrastructure damage and productivity losses. Adaptation strategies, including indoor cooling and resilient infrastructure, are recommended to mitigate these risks.

Climate change is making heat waves in Canada hotter, longer, and more frequent, with the country warming twice as fast as the global average. These events are linked to increased mortality, severe health issues, and the intensification of wildfires. Economic burdens include billions in healthcare costs, societal losses from premature deaths, and infrastructure damage. Adaptation strategies such as indoor cooling, green infrastructure, and improved urban design are recommended to mitigate these risks.

The study finds that Canadian municipalities spend millions annually managing single-use plastic (SUP) waste, though specific costs are often undertracked. Plastics comprise approximately 15% of both garbage and recycling streams by weight. The report highlights significant data gaps for items like vaping devices and tampon applicators, which are frequently found in wastewater screenings but rarely in solid waste audits. Environmental analysis shows cigarette butts are the most abundant SUP by count, while bottles and cups dominate by mass. A critical economic finding is the potential risk to Canadian agriculture, where microplastic pollution could lead to annual crop production value losses between CAD 0.5 and 2.16 billion. To address these issues, the authors developed a Plastic Waste Cost Calculator for local authorities and recommend transitioning to volumetric waste measurements and establishing a universal flushability standard for wipes.

The study evaluates the financial and environmental burden of eight common single-use plastics in Canada. It finds a significant lack of consistent data across municipalities, with costs often underestimated because they are based on weight rather than the high volume these plastics occupy. The report highlights that cigarette butts are the most frequent litter item, while plastic bottles and cups generate substantial management costs. It also estimates that microplastic pollution could risk between 0.5 and 2.16 billion CAD annually in Canadian agricultural production for wheat and corn. To address these gaps, the authors developed a 'Plastic Waste Cost Calculator' tool for local authorities and recommend shifting toward volumetric waste measurement and standardized data collection.

The report argues that low-density urban sprawl is fiscally unsustainable for Canadian municipalities, contributing to a national infrastructure deficit of CAD 270 billion. Using Winnipeg as a primary case study, it demonstrates how the failure to account for long-term maintenance and carbon costs in development decisions creates a 'municipal Ponzi scheme' where new growth is used to mask the liabilities of old infrastructure. The author recommends reforming development cost charges, property taxes, and fiscal impact assessments to prioritize compact, complete communities that generate more revenue and produce fewer emissions.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment – Nova Scotia (CAPE NS) urges the Halifax Regional Council to maintain full funding for HalifACT, asserting that cutting the estimated $6 million Climate Action Tax will shift financial burdens to the healthcare system. The letter highlights that climate change in Nova Scotia is driving increases in extreme heat mortality, respiratory issues from wildfire smoke, and the spread of Lyme disease. It argues that proactive investment in climate resilience is fiscally responsible, noting that every $1 spent today avoids $13 to $15 in future costs. Furthermore, the authors state that funding cuts disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, such as seniors and low-income residents in urban heat islands, who rely on programs like the Solar City initiative and home retrofits.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that Canada must modernize its ports by embedding clean energy and zero-emission fuels to avoid economic penalties and compete with nations like China and India. It highlights the role of ports as hubs for offshore wind and sustainable fuels, noting that the International Maritime Organization aims for net-zero shipping by 2050. The author warns that without federal support for renewable energy access, major Canadian ports risk becoming destinations for the world's most polluting ships.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that modernizing Canada's ports through electrification and the adoption of carbon-neutral fuels is essential for economic growth and climate action. It highlights the risk of Canadian ports becoming hubs for polluting vessels if they fail to adapt to emerging International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards and global competition from China and India.

The briefing examines the resurgence of the Canadian Jewish Defense League (JDL) through its rebranded entity, Israel Now. It details how the group uses social media, specifically the 'Never Again Live' platform, to target pro-Palestinian activists through doxxing and harassment. The document highlights the group's promotion of Jewish militancy, including firearms training, and its alignment with far-right, Islamophobic, and anti-immigrant rhetoric. It further notes the group's historical and contemporary links to violent extremist organizations and individuals, arguing that the Israel-Hamas conflict has provided an opportunity for the group to gain publicity and build coalitions.

The document examines the 'third sector' in Canada, noting a lack of research on how nonprofits and charities facilitate climate action. It argues that neoliberal decentralisation has shifted social welfare responsibilities to these organisations without providing sufficient autonomy or resources. The author finds that rigid, quantitative funding requirements often lead to 'mission drift' and fail to capture qualitative social impacts. The paper calls for more adaptable grant requirements, increased collaboration between governments and funders, and greater transparency regarding regulatory and tax implications to ensure the sustainability of climate-focused grassroots advocacy.

The report highlights 'bright spots' in Canada where local governments are integrating natural infrastructure—such as wetlands, trees, and rain gardens—to complement traditional grey infrastructure for services like stormwater management and flood protection. It examines the City of Nelson's use of bylaws, Halifax Regional Municipality's policy embedding, and EPCOR's integrated investment strategy in Edmonton.

The report examines how the City of Nelson, Halifax Regional Municipality, and EPCOR integrate natural infrastructure into their water management. It highlights the use of local bylaws in Nelson, a multi-level policy hierarchy in Halifax, and a hybrid grey-natural approach by EPCOR in Edmonton to enhance climate resilience and flood mitigation.

The document details the technical framework of the HEAT™ model used to assess the economics of heat pump adoption in Canada. It specifies the building archetypes, equipment configurations, and future-shifted climate data for Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montréal, and Halifax. The report outlines the financial inputs, including energy price forecasts, carbon pricing based on the federal backstop, and a comprehensive list of federal, provincial, and municipal incentives available at the time of analysis.

The report finds that heat pumps are the lowest-cost heating and cooling option for most Canadian households over the system's lifetime, though adoption is hindered by high upfront costs, information gaps, and structural barriers for renters. It recommends streamlining rebates, establishing one-stop shop services, and updating building codes to include cooling requirements.

The report finds that heat pumps are the most economical heating and cooling option for the majority of Canadian households over their system life cycle, particularly in cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Halifax. Despite this economic advantage, adoption remains low due to behavioral, economic, and structural barriers, including high initial costs, lack of consumer confidence, and complex government rebate programs. The document argues that heat pumps are critical for both decarbonizing residential buildings and increasing resilience against extreme heat, which has caused significant mortality in regions like British Columbia. It recommends that governments maintain financial supports, simplify application processes through 'one-stop shops', implement indoor maximum temperature limits in building codes, and mandate high-efficiency, non-polluting systems in new constructions where electrically-powered heating is most cost-effective.

The report argues that climate change is a national security issue for Canada, affecting its Arctic sovereignty, domestic disaster resilience, and international stability. It recommends establishing a Climate Security Task Force to coordinate a cross-agency response, adapting military infrastructure to sea-level rise and permafrost thaw, and leveraging multilateral institutions to manage global climate-driven fragility.

Nova Scotia has achieved significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions between 2005 and 2018 while maintaining economic growth, driven by fuel switching in electricity, energy efficiency, and a growing clean tech sector. However, the province faces structural unemployment in rural and Indigenous communities, high energy costs for households, and difficulties in decarbonizing the transportation sector to meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The document evaluates the performance of Canadian cities against SDG 8, focusing on GDP per capita, labour productivity, median income, unemployment, and youth unemployment. While GDP and median incomes have generally risen, the report highlights persistent gender pay gaps and regional disparities in unemployment, particularly in Prairie cities.

The report examines the transition from traditional gray infrastructure to green infrastructure (GI) for stormwater management. It argues that because the benefits of GI are collective while costs are private, public intervention via economic instruments—specifically stormwater markets—is necessary to bridge the investment gap. The document details various price-based and quantity-based instruments, such as stormwater retention credits and environmental impact bonds, and analyzes their application in cities like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Halifax.

The document tracks health and well-being indicators for Canadian cities against UN SDG 3 targets. It finds significant progress in neonatal mortality, chronic disease mortality, smoking rates, and health worker density. However, it notes rising trends in heavy drinking and HIV mortality in specific cities like Regina and Saskatoon, and an overall national increase in suicide and self-inflicted injury mortality, despite declines in several major cities.