December 3, 2024 Calgary, Alberta Natural Resources Canada
Across the country, the impacts of climate change are becoming more severe and more frequent with extreme events like floods, wildfires and heatwaves on the rise. Gradual changes, like thawing permafrost in the north and rising sea levels in coastal regions, are also affecting the safety of our communities and quality of life. Acting now will help improve long-term resilience and reduce costs associated with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Canada, including higher grocery prices, insurance premiums and local taxes to cover the costs of disaster recovery and damage.
To protect our communities from the worst economic and environmental impacts of climate change, we must continue to prepare for the changes that are coming by investing in community resilience. This will not only support the safety of Canadians but also reinforce the ability of communities to recover from extreme weather events.
Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, along with Member of Parliament George Chahal, announced over $2.6 million in funding for seven projects in the Prairies under Natural Resources Canada's Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP). These projects aim to help small, rural and Indigenous communities in the Prairies and across Canada adapt to a changing climate by developing training, tools and resources. They will also advance collaboration and meaningful engagement with First Nations partners and support them with the planning and implementation of actions that will help them adapt to a changing climate.
The funding announced today comes from a total investment of $39.5 million, announced on November 14, 2024, through the CCAP and the Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities (CRCC) Program to reduce climate change risks and build more resilient communities across the country in support of the National Adaptation Strategy (NAS).
The steps we take now will protect our communities, our livelihoods, our environment and our economy. We are actively investing in climate change adaptation to proactively support community-led resilience and adaptation projects. It is essential, now more than ever, that we come together to help communities stay strong in the face current and future change.
