Need-a-Source: Canada's Proposed National Adaptation Strategy must protect Canadians from climate change

TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2022 /CNW/ - Canada's National Adaptation Strategy is expected to be completed within a few weeks and unveiled before the COP 27 international climate conference. While it promises to be a big step towards protecting those living in Canada from the increasing impacts of climate change, without short-term targets and measures to prepare us for the escalating floods, wildfires and extreme heat events we are already facing, it will be too little, too late.

Climate Proof Canada, a broad coalition of like-minded disaster relief, insurance, municipal and environmental organizations, is encouraging the federal government to take action now to create a culture of preparedness and build a more disaster-resilient country. We believe a National Adaptation Strategy will only be successful if it sets clear national targets that drive short-term actions and reduces the climate risks those living in Canada are facing today.

Federal government officials are proposing a National Adaptation Strategy that only focusses on vague and distant goals without any national plan to address them. While the longer-term impacts of the climate crisis must be addressed, considering the increasing number of extreme weather events already occurring across Canada, we cannot wait until 2030 to limit the impacts of climate change in this country.

The members of Climate Proof Canada are recommending the National Adaptation Strategy focus on setting more realistic targets as part of a five-year implementation plan starting in 2023 to protect those living in Canada from extreme heat, flood and wildfires.

What gets measured gets done and without the use of targets, the National Adaptation Strategy will not provide the protection those living in Canada need today.   

Preparedness for escalating extreme weather events is within Canada's immediate grasp. The National Adaptation Strategy offers the potential of a coordinated approach, led by the department of Environment and Climate Change Canada, with support from the private sector and civil society organizations, to help make Canada weather-ready today.

Climate Proof Canada spokespeople are available to speak to the National Adaptation Strategy and the need for targets, and can also provide additional commentary for climate-related stories, such as:

• Risk reduction actions needed to address extreme heat, wildfire and flooding, including protecting Canada's most vulnerable communities
• Infrastructure investments and managed retreat as approaches to flood risk reduction
• Impact of extreme heat, wildfires and climate change on people's health
• Value and impact of retaining and restoring natural infrastructure as a way to reduce climate risks
• Impact of climate change, wildfire and flood on Canada's real estate market, supply chains and capital markets
• Climate adaptation progress in Canada and national adaptation strategies in other countries
• Disaster readiness and building community resilience through a whole-of-society approach
• Canada's approach to recovery efforts with respect to wildfires, flood and extreme heat

About Climate Proof Canada
Climate Proof Canada is an unprecedented coalition of insurance industry representatives, disaster relief organizations, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, environmental NGOs and university-based thought leaders. This coalition believes that Canada must prepare for the present and growing effects of climate change through building a more disaster-resilient country.

The Coalition launched in June 2021 and will be active in the years ahead to encourage all orders of government and the private sector to collaborate on climate adaptation and disaster resilience. For more information visit Climate Proof Canada.

Climate Proof Canada Coalition Members

INSURANCE INDUSTRY Aon Aviva Desjardins Canadian Association of Mutual Insurance Companies Co-operators Insurance Brokers' Association of Canada Insurance Bureau of Canada Intact Financial Corporation Property and Casualty Insurance Compensation Corporation Sun Life Financial TD Insurance Travelers Wawanesa Zurich Canada MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT Federation of Canadian Municipalities INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS Métis National Council

DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS Canadian Red Cross PRIVATE SECTOR Canadian Chamber of Commerce Forest Products Association of Canada Genesis Resiliency Surrey Board of Trade PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATIONS Conservation Ontario ENVIRONMENTAL NGOS AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction Intact Centre for Climate Adaptation International Institute for Sustainable Development Smart Prosperity Institute The Pembina Institute

SOURCE Climate Proof Canada

For media interviews please contact: Climate Proof Canada Media Relations, [email protected]