Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Association

Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Association
Name	Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Association
Formation	2012
Type	Non-profit
Headquarters	Halifax, Nova Scotia
Region served	Atlantic Canada
Leader title	Executive Director

Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Association

The Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions Association is a Canadian non-profit organization focused on climate resilience and adaptation across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. It engages with provincial ministries, municipal councils, Indigenous governments, academic institutions, and international development agencies to implement nature-based solutions, infrastructure planning, and community-based adaptation strategies. The association works with federal departments, regional agencies, and transnational networks to translate research into policy, planning, and practice.

History

The association was established in the early 2010s amid rising concern over coastal erosion, sea level rise, and extreme weather events affecting the Atlantic provinces. Founding partners included provincial departments such as Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change, New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government, and municipal entities including the Halifax Regional Municipality and the City of St. John's. Early collaborations involved universities like Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and University of New Brunswick, and national research organizations such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Environment and Climate Change Canada research networks. Funding and program links were established with federal agencies including Natural Resources Canada and the National Research Council Canada, and philanthropic partners like the Terry Fox Foundation and regional trusts. The association connected to international frameworks including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction to align regional action with global commitments.

Mission and Objectives

The association's stated mission emphasizes protecting coastal communities, critical infrastructure, and ecosystems across Atlantic Canada by facilitating adaptation planning, knowledge mobilization, and capacity building. Objectives include supporting municipal adaptation plans in towns such as Charlottetown, Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Saint John, New Brunswick, advancing nature-based interventions in estuaries like the Bay of Fundy, and integrating traditional knowledge from Indigenous partners including Mi'kmaq and Innu Nation authorities. Strategic goals align with national strategies from Parks Canada and international targets set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Programs and Initiatives

Program delivery spans community vulnerability assessments, shoreline restoration, and green infrastructure projects. Notable initiatives have included pilot projects in the Annapolis Valley, mangrove-equivalent saltmarsh restoration in the Miramichi River estuary, and floodplain mapping for the Saint John River watershed. The association has run training workshops for municipal planners from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and emergency management officers linked to Public Safety Canada frameworks. Collaborative initiatives have drawn expertise from institutes such as the Atlantic Geoscience Society, the Canadian Institute of Planners, and the Canadian Red Cross, and have been showcased at conferences like the International Conference on Coastal Engineering and the Canadian Water Resources Association annual meetings.

Research and Publications

Research outputs include technical reports, adaptation toolkits, and peer-reviewed studies produced with partners like Mount Allison University, St. Francis Xavier University, and the University of Prince Edward Island. Publications address topics such as coastal risk assessment methodologies consistent with Canada's National Adaptation Strategy, ecosystem-based adaptation case studies in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and economic assessments referencing analyses by Statistics Canada and the Bank of Canada. The association has contributed to working papers for the Royal Society of Canada and participated in multi-author chapters for reports coordinated by Ocean Frontier Institute and the Canadian Climate Forum.

Governance and Funding

Governance structures comprise a board with representatives from provincial agencies, municipal governments, Indigenous organizations, and academic partners including Acadia University and Cape Breton University. Funding streams have included program grants from Employment and Social Development Canada, project support from Infrastructure Canada, research funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council partnerships, and contributions from foundations such as the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Fiscal oversight is informed by reporting standards aligned with the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and audit practices advised by regional accounting bodies and financial institutions such as Scotiabank and Royal Bank of Canada.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The association maintains formal partnerships with Indigenous councils, provincial departments, municipal networks, and international bodies. Collaborators include the Assembly of First Nations, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and research consortia like the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response network. Cross-border and transatlantic links have been pursued with organizations such as the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the European Environment Agency, and networks like the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. Educational collaborations engage institutions including the Canadian Coast Guard College and outreach organizations like Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Category:Environmental organizations based in Canada Category:Climate change adaptation