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About carbon pricing in Canada
Canada employs a dual carbon pricing approach consisting of a consumer carbon price and an industrial carbon price for large emitters. To prevent carbon leakage and protect trade-exposed industries, Canada utilizes large-emitter trading systems (LETS), which primarily take the form of intensity-based systems or cap-and-trade. There are nine LETS across the country, including the federal output-based pricing system (OBPS) and Alberta's Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) Regulation, the latter being the largest due to Alberta's share of industrial emissions. Quebec operates the only cap-and-trade system in Canada, which is integrated with the Western Climate Initiative. The Northwest Territories uses a unique fuel levy with rebates rather than a trading system.
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Document type: Fact sheet
We must all step up to our role in reconciliation
The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) asserts that reconciliation is a collective national responsibility, emphasizing that environmental and health outcomes depend on justice for Indigenous and racialized people. CAPE is implementing this through internal decolonization, the launch of an Indigenous Caucus on October 1st, and partnerships like the Place-Based Power Project, which addresses health and climate impacts from fossil fuel extraction in Northern BC, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories. The organization also advocated for Bill C-226 and updates to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to recognize the right to a healthy environment and address disproportionate exposures on Indigenous lands.
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Document type: Statement
Building Natural Infrastructure Capacity Across Professions and Skilled Trades in the Canadian Prairies
The report identifies a capacity gap in the Canadian Prairies where the demand for natural infrastructure is growing, but the workforce remains primarily trained in 'grey' (human-made) infrastructure. It argues that scaling natural infrastructure requires a multidisciplinary approach involving engineers, planners, biologists, and skilled trades. The document proposes expanding professional development through industry associations, linking training to climate resilience and federal funding, and integrating Indigenous rights-based approaches to ensure sustainable and equitable project delivery.
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Document type: Report
Independent Assessment of Carbon Pricing Systems in Canada Modeling Appendix
The document outlines the gTech-IESD modeling framework used to assess Canadian carbon pricing. It details ten policy scenarios ranging from 'No policy' to 'Announced policies with binding LETS systems', alongside sensitivity analyses for oil prices and technology costs. The report specifies macroeconomic inputs from the PBO and CER, and provides a comprehensive inventory of legislated and announced federal and provincial climate policies, including fuel charges, Large Emitter Trading Systems (LETS), and various investment tax credits.
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Document type: Report
Global Flood Map Methodology Documentation
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.
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Document type: Report
Analysis: Climate change drove Canada’s warm December
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.
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Document type: Report
Climate change more than doubled the likelihood of extreme fire weather conditions in eastern Canada
The research finds that human-induced climate change significantly increased the intensity and probability of extreme fire weather in eastern Canada in 2023, particularly in Québec, where the cumulative severity of the fire season was approximately 50% more intense and at least seven times more likely to occur.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate Shift Index Global July 2023
Analysis of July 2023, likely Earth's record hottest month, shows that human-caused climate change significantly increased the likelihood of extreme heat globally. Using the Climate Shift Index (CSI), the report finds that 6.5 billion people experienced at least one day where heat was at least three times more likely due to climate change. Particularly strong influences were noted in the Caribbean, Mexico, the southern U.S., and parts of Africa and Asia. In the U.S., 73% of the population experienced at least one day at CSI level 3 or higher, with several cities in Florida, New Mexico, and Arizona showing the strongest climate fingerprints.
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Document type: Briefing
Preventing Toxic Exposures Program Activities 2023
The report details CAPE's 2023 efforts to reduce toxic exposures in Canada, highlighting the passage of Bill S-5 to modernize the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the launch of the Place-Based Power Project focusing on extraction impacts in Northern B.C., Alberta, and the Northwest Territories.
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Document type: Report
DUE NORTH: Facing the costs of climate change for Northern infrastructure
Northern Canada faces a double threat of inadequate existing infrastructure and a climate warming three times faster than the global average. Permafrost thaw is causing runways to warp, roads to collapse, and building foundations to crack. The report finds that while incremental adaptations like thermosyphons and embankment cooling can reduce costs, transformative adaptations—such as relocating infrastructure or leapfrogging to new technologies—are necessary for long-term resilience. The analysis highlights a significant 'infrastructure gap' rooted in colonial history, where many communities lack basic services like piped water and broadband internet, exacerbating the vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples.
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Document type: Report
THE IMPACTS OF PERMAFROST THAW ON NORTHERN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
The report documents how permafrost degradation affects Northern Indigenous communities in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut. It identifies critical impacts across five themes: hunting, trapping, and fishing; travel and access; food sovereignty; cultural continuity; and infrastructure. Key findings include the loss of traditional food storage (permafrost lockers), increased travel risks and costs due to slumping and boggy ground, and significant financial burdens on homeowners for building maintenance. The report argues that current policy is too technocentric and fails to account for the social and cultural dimensions of infrastructure and the cumulative effects of colonial history and climate change.
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Document type: Report
PLEIN NORD : faire face aux coûts des changements climatiques pour les infrastructures du Nord
The report highlights a 'double threat' in Northern Canada: inadequate existing infrastructure and a climate warming three times faster than the global average. Permafrost thaw is causing significant structural damage to runways, roads, and residential buildings, which threatens essential services like healthcare and food security. The authors argue that while incremental adaptation (e.g., thermosiphons) can delay costs, 'transformational adaptation'—repensuring how services are delivered and where infrastructure is located—is necessary to address systemic deficits rooted in colonial history. The report recommends federal funding restructuring, improved regional climate risk data, and updated building codes to ensure long-term resilience.
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Document type: Report
La vision à double perspective des camps de recherche interculturels
The document describes the 'double perspective' approach used by the Sahtú people in the Northwest Territories, where intercultural camps in nature facilitate the co-production of knowledge between Indigenous knowledge holders and scientific researchers. These camps aim to address climate change impacts—such as rising temperatures and changing caribou behavior—while promoting youth leadership, cultural reclamation, and community-led environmental monitoring. Key initiatives include the Dene Ts’ı̨lı̨ school for youth and water knowledge camps to address pollution and climate risks. The study highlights that successful implementation requires a focus on participant well-being, structured learning combined with traditional activities, and the provision of professional certifications to incentivize participation.
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Document type: Case study
Cross-Cultural Research Camps
The Sahtú Renewable Resources Board implements 'Cross Cultural Research Camps' to facilitate the co-production of knowledge between Indigenous community members and researchers. These camps address climate change impacts in the Northwest Territories—where temperatures are predicted to rise by 4 to 8 degrees by the 2050s—by combining traditional Dene and Métis knowledge with science-based monitoring. Key initiatives include youth-focused skills training, water knowledge camps to address contamination and climate risks, and the Tracking Change project focusing on fish ecology. The document highlights the necessity of integrating wellness supports for youth and developing cultural safety plans, while noting that these camps strengthen community resilience and cross-cultural relationships.
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Document type: Case study
CURRENT STATUS OF MINE CLOSURE READINESS: ARE GOVERNMENTS PREPARED?
The document evaluates global government preparedness for mine closure, finding significant gaps in policy, financial assurance, and community engagement regardless of a country's development level. It highlights that while most jurisdictions require closure plans, the quality of these plans and the capacity of regulators to review them are often insufficient. Key risks include a lack of full financial assurance for closure costs and a widespread absence of records for closed or abandoned mines. The briefing argues that capacity and experience are the primary barriers to readiness and recommends that governments adopt international standards, engage communities throughout the mine life cycle, and build internal technical expertise.
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Document type: Briefing
GLOBAL REVIEW: Financial assurance governance for the post-mining transition
The report examines the mechanisms used to ensure mining companies provide sufficient funds for environmental rehabilitation if they fail to meet closure obligations. It details various financial instruments, cost estimation methodologies, and policy requirements from leading jurisdictions including Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, and the United States.
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Document type: Report
Advancing the Climate Resilience of Canadian Infrastructure
The report identifies significant climate risks to Canadian infrastructure, including permafrost degradation in the North and flooding in coastal and urban areas. It recommends a whole-of-society approach combining climate-informed planning, structural changes, and natural infrastructure solutions. While federal initiatives like the Climate Lens and the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund provide a foundation, the report argues for greater investment to close an infrastructure gap estimated up to CAD 1 trillion and the adoption of more diverse sustainable finance mechanisms.
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Document type: Report
Leaving No Canadian Behind: Measuring the well-being of vulnerable Canadians for effective SDG implementation
The report argues that effective implementation of the SDGs in Canada requires a multi-tiered measurement approach that moves beyond national averages to identify and monitor vulnerable groups. It identifies key marginalized populations—including Indigenous Peoples, recent immigrants, and people with disabilities—and highlights the systemic data gaps that hinder targeted interventions. The authors advocate for the use of complementary community-driven data sources and investments in data interoperability, specifically through mission-oriented data ecosystems, to ensure that those 'furthest behind' are accurately captured and supported.
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Document type: Report
Costing Climate Change Impacts on Canada’s Infrastructure: Results for “Deep Dive” Statistical and Process-based Models Final Report
The report finds that inland flooding represents the highest annual cost of climate change for Canadian infrastructure, with mid-range estimates between $5 billion and $8 billion per year. Proactive adaptation can significantly reduce costs for roads, rail, and the electrical grid, though it is less effective for permafrost thaw and inland flooding. The analysis highlights that while total costs are often concentrated in high-population areas like Ontario, specific geographic risks such as permafrost thaw disproportionately affect the three territories.
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Document type: Report
11 WAYS TO MEASURE CLEAN GROWTH
The Canadian Climate Institute identifies 11 indicators to track clean growth, categorized into goals (low-carbon growth and economic resilience), catalysts (technology development, adoption, trade, and infrastructure), and foundations (jobs, affordable energy, inclusive resilience, clean air, and ecosystems). The analysis reveals that while Canada has decoupled GDP from GHGs, progress is uneven across provinces, and significant data gaps hinder comprehensive policy tracking.
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Document type: Report