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| Canadian Climate Change Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Name | Canadian Climate Change Assessment |
| Formation | 2000s |
| Headquarters | Ottawa |
| Region | Canada |
| Leader title | Chair |
| Website | (see Government of Canada publications) |
Canadian Climate Change Assessment The Canadian Climate Change Assessment is a major national scientific synthesis that evaluates climate change science, impacts, vulnerabilities, and adaptation options for Canada. It integrates findings from federal agencies, provincial bodies, academic institutions, and international assessments to inform policy and planning across Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver, and Arctic communities. Reports draw on collaborations with organizations such as Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The assessment compiles evidence from research centres including the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, Prairie Climate Centre, and university groups at University of Toronto, McGill University, University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, Université de Montréal, Dalhousie University, Simon Fraser University, Université Laval, University of Calgary, Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of Ottawa, Queen's University, University of Saskatchewan, and Carleton University. Its purpose is to inform decision-makers in provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Indigenous governments including Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Assembly of First Nations, and Métis National Council. The assessment synthesizes outputs from model centres like Coupled Model Intercomparison Project contributors and links to international efforts including World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Development traces to science-policy linkages in the 1990s involving actors such as Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Institute for Climate Studies, and the formation of national reports paralleling the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment cycles. Early reports incorporated research from laboratories like Canadian Climate Centre and collaborations with groups including Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Association of Geographers, Canadian Water Resources Association, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and Canadian Red Cross. Over time, the program expanded through partnerships with provincial ministries in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador and through involvement with international networks such as Arctic Council, Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, Global Environment Facility, International Institute for Sustainable Development, and World Bank climate projects.
Methodology integrates peer-reviewed literature from journals produced by institutions like Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Atmosphere-Ocean, Geophysical Research Letters, Journal of Climate, Nature Climate Change, and Science Advances. It uses climate projections from model intercomparison projects administered by World Climate Research Programme teams and employs downscaling methods developed at centres such as Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium and Prairie Climate Centre. Impact assessments draw on sectoral expertise from Transport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Parks Canada Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Scenarios reference emissions pathways consistent with Representative Concentration Pathways and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways used by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Risk assessment frameworks align with standards from the International Organization for Standardization and guidance from the World Health Organization.
The assessment documents warming trends and climate extremes affecting regions including the Arctic, Boreal Shield, Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Lowlands, Hudson Bay Lowlands, Prairies, Atlantic Provinces, and Pacific Coast. It highlights permafrost thaw in Nunavut and Northwest Territories, sea ice decline around Baffin Island and Hudson Bay, coastal erosion in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, glacier retreat in the Columbia Icefield and Mount Logan regions, increased wildfire risk in British Columbia and Alberta, altered fisheries dynamics in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Grand Banks, and impacts on infrastructure in cities like Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Winnipeg, Vancouver Island, and Regina. The assessment cites effects on species and ecosystems monitored by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Birds Canada, World Wildlife Fund Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Parks Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Canadian Forest Service.
Recommendations address mitigation, adaptation, and resilience policies for jurisdictions such as Parliament of Canada, provincial legislatures in Ontario Legislature, Legislative Assembly of Alberta, British Columbia Legislative Assembly, National Assembly of Quebec, and for municipal governments like City of Toronto, City of Vancouver, City of Montreal, City of Ottawa, City of Calgary, and City of Winnipeg. Advice includes aligning with international commitments under Paris Agreement and integrating approaches from instruments like the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and regional strategies coordinated with entities such as Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Public Safety Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Transport Canada, Infrastructure Canada, and Indigenous Services Canada.
Governance structures involve scientific advisory panels with experts from Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and academic chairs at institutions including McMaster University and Western University. Stakeholder engagement includes consultations with non-governmental organizations such as David Suzuki Foundation, Pembina Institute, Climate Action Network Canada, Environmental Defence Canada, Greenpeace Canada, Canadian Climate Institute, Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Ecology Action Centre, and industry stakeholders including Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, Mining Association of Canada, Canadian Electricity Association, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Canadian Transportation Agency, Air Canada, and Canadian Nuclear Association.
Critiques engage researchers at University of Guelph, Brock University, Concordia University, Ryerson University (Toronto Metropolitan University), University of Victoria, Laval University, University of Manitoba, and think tanks such as Fraser Institute, C.D. Howe Institute, Pembina Institute, and Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Debates focus on model uncertainty, downscaling methods, treatment of permafrost carbon feedbacks, representation of Indigenous knowledge from groups like Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Assembly of First Nations, sectoral cost–benefit analyses referenced by Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and differing priorities voiced by municipal networks including ICLEI Canada and Big City Mayors' Caucus. Scientific discourse connects with international critique from contributors to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports and workshops convened by the World Climate Research Programme.