Search Climate Insights Directory

The report details a national survey of 2,219 Canadians showing strong public demand for urgent government action on water infrastructure, with 72.5% viewing it as an urgent priority. While awareness of the term 'natural infrastructure' is low (47% have not heard it), there is high support (71.1%) for its implementation as a cost-effective alternative or supplement to grey infrastructure. The findings highlight significant regional disparities, such as high rates of water main breaks in the Prairies and seasonal shortages in British Columbia, and underscore a persistent infrastructure gap for Indigenous communities who experience disproportionately higher rates of boil-water advisories and water shortages.

The document details how climate change intensifies droughts through higher temperatures and altered precipitation, leading to severe economic losses in agriculture and hydropower, increased wildfire risks, and public health threats in Canada.

Climate change is increasing the risk and severity of droughts globally and across Canada, leading to significant economic losses in agriculture and hydroelectricity, increased wildfire risk, and public health threats. In Canada, the southern Prairies and interior British Columbia are particularly vulnerable, with 2025 seeing 85% of the country abnormally dry. The document advocates for proactive drought response plans, water conservation, and strengthened agricultural resilience to mitigate these impacts.

The De Salaberry water retention project study (2019-2023) demonstrates that small naturalized dams can reduce phosphorus loads while mitigating floods and erosion, though performance varies based on retention time and incoming loads. The report argues that standard design practices often fail to maximize phosphorus reduction and recommends strategic targeting of phosphorus hot spots and increased retention times to better combat eutrophication and harmful algal blooms in Canadian freshwater systems.

The paper examines the potential for Indigenous-led electricity transmission in Canada, advocating for a transition from passive equity stakes to full project leadership. It highlights the economic benefits of regulated rate-of-return models for community revenue and proposes a financing structure using Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) via the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA) and the Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation (CILGC) to overcome structural barriers like the Indian Act.

The document posits that the lived experience and intergenerational knowledge of Métis harvesters provide more granular and longitudinal climate data than official monitoring systems. It highlights how environmental changes—such as unpredictable berry ripening and shifting animal populations—are detected by harvesters long before they appear in scientific datasets. The author argues that colonial frameworks have marginalized this knowledge, and that true climate resilience requires integrating Métis observation as primary data, protecting harvesting rights, and supporting the intergenerational transmission of land-based knowledge.

The paper advocates for Indigenous-led electricity transmission projects in Canada, moving beyond passive equity stakes to active project leadership. It highlights the economic potential of a national grid, the role of Indigenous ownership in reducing diesel dependency and funding community services, and proposes a financing model using the First Nations Financial Management Board (FNFMB) and the Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation (CILGC) to overcome capital barriers.

The document posits that the lived experience and intergenerational knowledge of Métis harvesters provide more granular and place-specific climate data than formal monitoring systems. It highlights how changing environmental patterns—such as unpredictable saskatoon berry ripening and altered freeze-thaw cycles—are already evident to harvesters. The author argues that the erosion of harvesting access due to industrial contamination, habitat loss, and social threats constitutes a climate impact and a violation of food sovereignty. The text calls for a redesign of climate monitoring to co-develop frameworks with Métis communities and treat the transmission of harvesting knowledge as a priority for climate adaptation.

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 document reports on Phase 1 of a project to reduce single-use foodware in Winnipeg, MB. Through surveys of 26 food-service businesses and 50 customers, it finds a high level of awareness and willingness to transition to reusables, though significant barriers exist regarding cost, convenience, and communication. It recommends the adoption of a city-wide reusable foodware program, increased incentives for 'Bring Your Own' (BYO) practices, and government guidance on sustainable procurement.

The report quantifies how extreme heat and rainfall accelerate the deterioration of Canadian public infrastructure, increasing annual costs by $15.1B on average between 2025 and 2100 if no adaptation occurs. It compares 'reactive' and 'proactive' adaptation strategies, finding that proactive upgrades—implemented at the earliest feasible intervention—reduce average annual climate-related costs to $6.5B, a 57% reduction compared to the no-adaptation scenario. The analysis highlights that municipalities bear the heaviest financial burden, owning over 73% of the infrastructure value. A separate flood-risk assessment indicates that structural protection measures can significantly reduce future damages, though returns vary by region.

The report argues that rural Canadian communities face disproportionate challenges in climate adaptation due to limited financial and human resources, a lack of technical expertise in nature-based solutions, and gaps in vulnerability data. It highlights that while adaptation planning has increased, implementation often stalls after consultancy phases. To address this, the authors advocate for tailored financing, the integration of climate resilience into all new infrastructure investments, and a 'multi-solving' approach that addresses climate, biodiversity, and housing crises simultaneously.

The report argues that flexible demand—the ability to shift or reduce electricity use during peak periods—can significantly lower system costs and defer expensive infrastructure upgrades in Canada. While some provinces like Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia are implementing demand-side management (DSM) programs, the report finds that these resources remain under-deployed due to outdated regulatory frameworks, misaligned financial incentives for utilities and consumers, and a tendency for planners to treat DSM as a passive load reduction rather than an active grid resource.

The document highlights the decline of natural water storage in the Canadian Prairies due to drainage and land conversion, which increases vulnerability to climate-driven extremes. It advocates for a combination of wetland conservation and constructed water retention projects to improve water security, reduce flood peaks, and enhance water quality. The brief provides specific examples of successful projects in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, while outlining a strategic framework for future expansion, including prioritized conservation and increased funding.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) are critical for providing the long-term predictability needed by risk-averse utilities and regulators to invest in clean energy. By setting emission limits for fossil fuel-burning generation that reach zero tonnes per gigawatt hour by 2050, the CER complements industrial carbon pricing and Investment Tax Credits to lower the cost of capital for decarbonization. The author emphasizes that while the CER allows for provincial flexibility and equivalency agreements, a stable federal standard is necessary to prevent provincial rollbacks—such as Saskatchewan's decision to extend coal plant life—from undermining Canada's overall emissions targets.

The Canadian Climate Institute asserts that the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER) provide a critical foundation of certainty for utility providers and regulators, encouraging the massive capital investments required to decarbonize Canada's power grids. The document highlights how the CER complements other policies, such as industrial carbon pricing and investment tax credits, to lower costs for consumers and ensure a competitive advantage for industries seeking clean energy. It emphasizes that while the CER sets national goals—including a target of zero tonnes of emissions per gigawatt-hour by 2050—it maintains flexibility for provinces to implement equivalent solutions and manage their own resource planning.

The global economy is undergoing an 'electrotech revolution' driven by drastic cost reductions in solar, wind, and battery technologies, with clean energy investments projected to top US$2 trillion in 2025. Canada is well-positioned due to its low-cost electricity and critical mineral reserves, but faces rising electricity demand in provinces like B.C., Quebec, Ontario, and Alberta that exceeds supply. To compete, the author recommends that Canadian governments strengthen clean electricity regulations and tax credits, support the electrification of heavy industries (such as steel and cement) through blended finance and carbon pricing, and create incentives to develop critical minerals value chains while sharing financial risks with investors.

The IISD supports Manitoba's 'Path to Net Zero' plan as a framework for a low-carbon economy, praising the creation of a Climate Change Committee of Cabinet and the focus on Indigenous partnerships. However, the IISD emphasizes the need for detailed implementation plans and warns that carbon capture and storage (CCS) may be an expensive alternative to other emissions reduction opportunities.

The report evaluates 17 types of natural infrastructure across four functional families (cover, basins, watercourses, and groundwater) to support water management in the Canadian Prairies. It argues that while natural assets like grasslands and wetlands are essential, constructed analogues such as bioretention and green roofs are necessary in urban areas to bridge the infrastructure gap. The document provides performance rankings and technical data to help decision-makers build a more robust business case for nature-based solutions over traditional grey infrastructure.