Federal government announces funds for climate resilience research to strengthen infrastructure

OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 17, 2024 /CNW/ - Now more than ever, communities are experiencing the impacts of climate events. Preparing Canada's communities – including the infrastructure that supports them – for these events is critical to keeping Canadians safe, protecting local businesses, and supporting a strong economy. 

Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Mitch Davies, President, National Research Council of Canada (NRC), and Chantal Guay, CEO, Standards Council of Canada (SCC) announced a federal investment of $59.6 million over five years to amplify and expedite research initiatives that will help ensure communities have the knowledge and guidance – including codes, standards, guidelines, and tools – needed to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

This investment will build upon the current work funded by Infrastructure Canada to support the NRC-led Climate Resilient Built Environment (CRBE) initiative and the SCC-led Standards to Support Resilience in Infrastructure Program (SSRIP).   

The CRBE initiative provides knowledge to adapt our public infrastructure where necessary, informs potential changes to building and infrastructure codes and standards, and creates guides, tools, and technical solutions to support resilience to climate change. This initiative will continue to support resilience across the construction sector, from design and decision-making to construction, operation, maintenance, and retrofit.

The SSRIP initiative delivers standards and related guidance that address priority areas such as heat, flooding, nature-based solutions, and transportation system resilience. The program is working with communities and beneficiaries to ensure that projects promote a consistent approach to climate change adaptation, increase resilience, and support informed decision-making for infrastructure and buildings across Canada.

Making adaptation investments today will have major economy-wide benefits in the years to come. The research is clear, according to the Canadian Climate Institute for every dollar spent on adaptation measures today, $13-$15 will be returned in years ahead in direct and indirect benefits.

Quotes

"The research and data delivered through this investment will strengthen communities and help them better protect the homes, businesses, and livelihoods of their residents from the impacts of climate change. We will continue working with our partners to ensure the safety and well-being of Canadians across the country in the face of these impacts."

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

"The safety and well-being of Canadians are priorities for our government as we already feel the impacts of climate change. This investment will support the important work being done that will help us ensure that Canada's new and existing buildings and infrastructure are more resilient, reducing disaster risks and protecting communities across the country."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"Research plays a fundamental role in how we design, build and maintain our infrastructure, buildings and homes to withstand the effects of climate change. Today's investment continues to support the National Research Council of Canada's work with collaborators across the country to build a climate resilient Canada through science and innovation."

Mitch Davies, President, National Research Council of Canada 

"Climate risks can be reduced or avoided by making sure communities are designed to standards that address climate change. Using standards, decision-makers and professionals can better plan, construct, and maintain climate-resilient, nature-positive, and sustainable cities. Working with experts across Canada, we are ensuring they have the tools they need to adapt communities."

Chantal Guay, CEO, Standards Council of Canada

"Adaptation is about being better prepared to address and reduce the impacts of climate change, now and in the future. For me, this announcement is about strengthening communities against climate risks. It illustrates our determination to continue to implement Canada's National Adaptation Strategy, a whole-of-society blueprint to prepare for, and reduce the risks of, climate change through coordinated and ambitious action. Together, we have taken substantial strides towards building climate resilience in our communities and our economy."

The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• The federal government is investing $59.6 million through the National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) and Government of Canada's Adaptation Action Plan (GOCAAP) over five years. This includes $12.1 million to Infrastructure Canada (INFC), $30.1 million to the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), and $17.4 million for the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
• This funding will support research and development initiatives that help communities withstand natural climate events and climate-related risks. By helping make infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change, the federal government can better protect communities, the safety and security of Canadians, while reducing the damage to homes, assets, and the disruption of economic activity.
• On June 27, 2023, the government released Canada's National Adaptation Strategy. It commits $1.6 billion in new federal funding to help address both immediate and future climate risks to Canadian communities.
• From 2016 to 2028, the federal government has committed $160 million of funding through the Climate-Resilient Buildings and Core Public Infrastructure (CRBCPI), Climate Resilient Built Environment (CRBE), and Standards to Support Resilience in Infrastructure Program (SSRIP) initiatives.
• The CRBE initiative led by the NRC builds on the foundational work and success of the CRBCPI initiative, which was a similar five-year initiative. To date, these initiatives have delivered future climate design engineering values and supported over 65 climate-informed codes, standards, guidance, and decision-support tools.
• The SSRIP initiative led by SCC has advanced over 50 new and updated standards and related guidance to date that incorporate climate change considerations for infrastructure and buildings across on topics ranging from flooding and high winds to permafrost degradation.

Associated links

• Infrastructure Canada Codes, Standards, and Guidance for Climate Resilience 
• Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan
• NRC research on climate resilient buildings and infrastructure
• Canadians Prospering in a Changing Climate: The Roles of Standards
• Canada's National Adaptation Strategy: Building Resilient Communities and a Strong Economy

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

(media only), please contact: Micaal Ahmed, Communications Manager, Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, 343-598-3920, [email protected]; Media Relations: Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; National Research Council of Canada, 613-991-1431, Toll free: 1-855-282-1637, Email: [email protected]; Nadine James, Communications Manager, Standards Council of Canada, 613-238-3222, Email: [email protected]