Adapting to Climate Change: Is Canada Ready?

Future climate change will have a major impact on Canada. Are Canada and Canadians prepared? While both mitigation and adaptation strategies ought to be complementary parts of any strategy to handle climate change, this report focuses on adaptation.

Adaptation strategies have to reflect the fact that climate change will affect numerous parts of the country in different ways. Climate change adaptation measures have localized impacts. However, successful implementation of any measure needs the cooperation of all levels of government.

Effective adaptation strategies will take a long-term, holistic approach that includes the costs and benefits of policy changes. More research investment is needed to better understand future climate change impacts and to provide the basic information needed to implement effective adaptation strategies. Canadians and their governments ignore climate change at their peril. The sooner adaptation strategies are implemented, the more secure the future will become.