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The report finds that a cost-optimal path to net zero in Canada requires a massive shift toward electrification of building heat, with electricity powering 78% to 91% of annual space heating demand by 2050. It argues that continued expansion of gas networks is inconsistent with these goals and risks creating stranded assets. The analysis highlights a critical gap in provincial policy leadership, noting that current utility regulation—which incentivizes infrastructure growth—is ill-suited for the energy transition. To mitigate risks, the report recommends that provincial governments legislate net zero targets, mandate electrification for new buildings, and equip regulators to manage the gradual contraction of gas networks while investing in electricity capacity and peak demand management.

The report outlines the technical process of combining Fathom's Global Flood Map (v3.1) with Public Safety Canada's residential building data and probabilistic vulnerability functions. It describes the use of 'big data' from US FEMA insurance claims to model damage distributions across 10 residential building types. The methodology accounts for flood defenses based on urbanization levels and applies the trapezium rule across eight return periods to estimate economic losses. Results show that Canada's defended AAL is projected to increase from 1,423 million CAD in 2020 to 1,681 million CAD by 2050, while undefended AAL is significantly higher, reaching 5,050 million CAD by 2050.

The Advancing Natural Infrastructure Forum 2024 brought together practitioners and leaders to discuss the transition from 'grey' to 'green' infrastructure in the Canadian Prairies. The event highlighted successful projects—such as beaver dam analogues by Blood Tribe Land Management and floating treatment wetlands at Olds College—and emphasized the need for watershed-scale collaboration and dedicated funding. Key discussions focused on the business case for natural assets, the role of Indigenous leadership, and the integration of natural infrastructure into municipal asset management and corporate reporting to address climate adaptation and biodiversity.

The report examines the infrastructure funding gap in Canada, specifically within the water sector of the Canadian Prairies, and proposes a shift toward natural infrastructure. It identifies several private financing instruments—including carbon and biodiversity credits, outcome-based financing, natural asset companies, and insurance mechanisms—while emphasizing the need for intermediary organizations to coordinate stakeholders and the importance of Indigenous involvement in the reconciliation process.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) advocates for the passage of Bill C-226, arguing that environmental racism creates 'pollution hotspots' that disproportionately harm the health of Indigenous and racialized communities. CAPE links these exposures to severe health outcomes, including cancer and respiratory illnesses, and calls for a national strategy that integrates planetary health and Traditional Knowledge to address these systemic injustices.

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 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.

Analysis by Climate Central indicates that human-caused climate change made the record-breaking warmth in Canada during December 2023 significantly more likely. While El Niño contributed to milder conditions, the report argues it was insufficient on its own to produce the observed records. The warmth led to delayed ice road openings in the North and disrupted winter sports and skating in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia.

The report identifies systemic barriers to climate-resilient Indigenous housing in Canada, rooted in colonial policies and exacerbated by funding gaps and capacity constraints. It highlights the disproportionate risk First Nations face from flooding, wildfire, and permafrost thaw, while recommending a shift toward prevention-focused funding, modernized building codes, and the integration of Indigenous Knowledge.

The Canadian Climate Institute evaluates the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions' (OSFI) Standardized Climate Scenario Analysis Exercise (SCSAE), arguing that while it is a positive step toward normalizing climate risk management for federal financial institutions, it is currently 'exagérément simplifié'. The Institute recommends that the SCSAE move beyond simple exposure analysis to incorporate asset vulnerability, regional differences within Canada, and the economic opportunities presented by the clean energy transition to avoid distorting the financial risk landscape.

The Canadian Climate Institute supports the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions' (OSFI) draft Standardized Climate Scenario Exercise (SCSE) but argues it is currently oversimplified. The Institute recommends that OSFI explicitly disclose limitations regarding the lack of regional data and the omission of clean energy opportunities. It specifically warns that the SCSE confuses 'exposure' with 'risk' in its physical and real estate modules, failing to account for asset vulnerability and comprehensive climate policy. To increase practical value, the Institute suggests piloting risk assessments for a small number of highly material risks, such as flooding, rather than broad hazard exposure mapping.

The analysis finds that while exempting heating oil has a negligible effect on emissions, adding a natural gas exemption would increase 2030 emissions by 4.5 megatonnes. Furthermore, such exemptions would reduce the carbon rebate payments available to most households, negatively impacting affordability, particularly for lower-income groups.

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 argues that while water retention is a key climate adaptation tool in Manitoba, its effectiveness depends on strategic site selection, naturalized design, and long-term monitoring. It details the multi-dimensional benefits of water retention—including flood and drought risk reduction, water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity enhancement—and provides a three-step integrated framework for the province to assess storage needs, develop optimized solutions, and implement informed decision-making processes.

The 2022 Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics, held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, examined how to scale nature-based solutions to address aging water infrastructure in Canada's Prairies. Participants identified that a stronger business case for natural infrastructure requires tailored metrics and data to make economic benefits visible in regulatory and funding decisions. The forum highlighted the urgency of addressing an investment deficit in crumbling water infrastructure to mitigate risks from flooding, drought, extreme heat, and wildfires.

The report argues that federal investments in clean electricity will lower overall energy expenses for Canadians by 2050, despite modest increases in electricity rates, provided that provinces implement targeted affordability measures for low-income households.

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 report examines how high-frequency, real-time water quality monitoring can improve watershed management and decision-making, particularly in the Winnipeg River basin. It contrasts the advantages of automated sensors—such as rapid response to contamination and lower long-term cost per measurement—with limitations including sensor drift, maintenance costs, and data management burdens. Through case studies at the Powerview-Pine Falls drinking water facility and Lake 227, the document demonstrates the utility of real-time data for optimizing water treatment and tracking algal bloom dynamics.

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.