How to build a more resilient Canada

Offence and defence — that’s how we need to look at climate action in the 21st century.

For someone like me, who has spent decades fighting to raise awareness and stop the pollution that causes climate change, preparing for the many impacts of our changing climate feels like fighting a two-front war. We can and we must do both to reduce carbon pollution and prepare for the impacts of climate change, for a complete effort. It takes a national adaptation strategy that brings everyone into the conversation.

What does adaptation look like? It’s that riverside park, designed to absorb heavier spring flooding with minimal disruption to neighbourhoods and public infrastructure.

It is constructing 21st-century homes and infrastructure, built with new climate extremes in mind.

It is better sharing of real-time data on weather systems with local public safety officials, city planners, and public utilities who can then better prepare for every situation — from snow loads to wildfires.

It is retooling the risk profile of long-term pension investments, insurance and other financial instruments that help drive our economy.

It’s those urban tree plantings, that reduce the effect of heatwaves.

All of these adaptations and more are already underway as the Government of Canada, provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities, businesses and individual

Canadians do what humans do best — adapt.

This week we launched a conversation on Canada’s first-ever National Adaptation Strategy. We want to drive our collective ambition and focus our attention on measurable outcomes.

The goal is to take stock together of all the adaption efforts already underway, to uncover successes, weaknesses and blind spots, and to ensure we’re all pulling in the same direction. The Government of Canada has also been working with experts in the field, obtaining feedback and advice on developing measurable and targeted outcomes.

The goal is to identify the best leverage points for increased investment and collaboration.

This is not only a pragmatic exercise in dealing with the real world issues that confront every community in Canada, but also an inspiring call to action to move further and faster on greening our entire economy.

Because today, climate change is no longer a theoretical exercise. It’s here now.

Coastal erosion, wildfires, drought, flash flooding, atmospheric rivers, heat domes, melting permafrost — no corner of Canada is untouched. And no community, region, business, or level of government can sit this one out.

Public works projects are underway across Canada, financial institutions and businesses are re-scoping investments, technological solutions are market-ready and scaling at the commercial level, recovering natural landscapes are benefiting the climate, biodiversity and communities alike. We just need to co-ordinate and implement at all levels of government in a way that works for everyone. With the help of provinces and territories, Indigenous groups and private sector stakeholders, including NGOs, we have identified five broad themes to inform the initial development of the strategy, and fleshed out those themes through expert advisory tables. Now we need every Canadian to weigh in. This national consultation is designed to make sure we leave no stone unturned, no climate impact ignored, no community bypassed and no fresh idea unexplored. If you have views on how we can best adapt to climate change, we want to hear from you.

Now is the time to build the homes and infrastructure of the 21st century. Now is the time to work together to build a more resilient Canada.