As climate change reshapes our world, water is increasingly central to humanity’s grand and most urgent challenges. From devastating hurricanes and floods to extended droughts and wildfires, the impacts of a warming climate on water systems are overwhelmingly felt by various communities across Canada. These challenges affect the whole nation but most acutely felt by vulnerable populations, including Indigenous communities, who have the least capacity to adapt. Addressing these challenges demands not only technological innovation but also robust policies, cross-provincial coordination, and inclusive governance to create long-term resilience. While advanced data technologies and AI will be a tremendous help in projecting the future and adaptation strategies, a comprehensive approach towards a sustainable future requires governance reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and strong collaboration between provinces and territories.

A significant step forward in 2024 has been the establishment of Canada Water Agency, a national body created to coordinate efforts in water management, protect freshwater resources, and promote climate adaptation strategies across provinces. This agency will play a crucial role in ensuring the sustainable use of water, addressing water quality issues, managing water data, and fostering cooperation between federal, provincial, and Indigenous stakeholders.

Extreme Events and Natural Disasters: A Call for Proactive Solutions

The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events highlight critical vulnerabilities in Canada’s infrastructure. Winter storms, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires have caused widespread damage, exposing gaps in preparedness and response systems. The 2023 Montreal ice storm, which left over one million people without power, and the 2021 winter storm Uri, which affected parts of North America including Canada, illustrate how unprepared we are for climate-induced shocks.

Canada’s path toward resilience must leverage the full power of science, policy innovation, and community engagement. As we address the climate-water nexus, it is essential that Canada leads with unified approaches that balance technological advances with equitable, policy-driven strategies that account for regional diversity. AI-enhanced systems and climate models can help Canada better predict and mitigate some of these risks, the nation’s resilience strategy must prioritize policy reforms that promote infrastructure resilience, community preparedness, and proactive governance. Cross-provincial collaboration is essential, as no single region can tackle these challenges alone. By creating a unified national resilience strategy, provinces and territories can work together to update infrastructure standards, improve emergency preparedness programs, and share best practices for disaster mitigation.

Addressing Inequity and Vulnerability: Local and Global Perspectives

The impacts of climate change are felt most acutely by vulnerable populations, both within Canada and globally. Canada’s global leadership in climate resilience could include efforts to support marginalized communities—both domestically, such as Indigenous and rural populations, and internationally in developing nations most affected by climate impacts.

Canada’s First Nations-led water security programs offer a model of how community-driven solutions can build resilience in vulnerable regions. These efforts, however, need the support of national policies that prioritize equitable resource distribution and inclusive decision-making. Federal and provincial governments must ensure that these policies address the distinct vulnerabilities faced by Northern and remote communities, often on the front lines of climate change.

Globally, Canada should continue advocating for international policies that foster capacity building and technology transfer to ensure that the state-of-the-art technologies, including the AI-powered solutions, benefit at-risk populations. By promoting equity-driven initiatives and sharing Canada’s innovations with the global community, we can ensure that vulnerable populations are not left behind, not in Canada and not in the rest of the world that needs Canada’s attention and support.

Urbanization and Water Risks in Canada

As urban populations in Canada grow, so do the risks posed by climate change. Flooding, strain on water and sewer infrastructure, and extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common in major cities. In 2024, Toronto experienced nearly 10 centimeters of rainfall in just three hours, overwhelming infrastructure and causing widespread damage, and Hurricane Debby caused record-breaking floods in Quebec, leading to $2.5 billion in insured damages.

Besides investing in improved models, AI-enhanced flood mapping, and real-time monitoring systems to mitigate these risks, Canada must invest in long-term infrastructure upgrades, sustainable urban planning, and cross-jurisdictional collaboration. Provinces must work with federal counterparts to develop forward-looking policies that address the evolving climate threats faced by urban areas. Improving water management systems, updating zoning laws to reflect climate risks, and increasing collaboration on sustainable land use are critical steps in building urban resilience. Canada’s urban resilience strategy should prioritize both technological innovation and policy-driven investments in water infrastructure and disaster preparedness.

Harnessing Technology for Climate Leadership: Canada’s Role

Canada is uniquely positioned to lead on the global stage by integrating advanced technologies including remote sensing, blockchain, advanced filtration systems, and AI, among others into its broader climate and water resilience strategies. These technologies will be an essential component of a larger toolkit that includes stronger environmental policies, international partnerships, and a commitment to equity. As Canada prepares to chair the G7 in 2025, it has an opportunity to advocate for a climate agenda that balances technological innovation with comprehensive policy frameworks, focusing on sustainability, regional collaboration, and inclusivity. Strengthening regional and international cooperation, fostering unity among Canadian provinces, and ensuring that technological advancements align with environmental justice goals are key to Canada’s leadership in the global climate fight.

Toward Climate Resilience: A Unified Canadian Approach

Achieving climate resilience in Canada requires systems thinking and unity between federal and provincial governments. Canada’s leadership on the global climate agenda will be defined not only by its technological innovations but by its ability to integrate these advancements into a holistic policy framework that promotes sustainability, equity, and cooperation.
Canada’s government can foster meaningful collaboration between provinces, industries, Indigenous communities, and civil society. This approach would include vulnerable populations in decision-making processes and ensure that public awareness campaigns, policy reforms, and equitable resource distribution are critical components of Canada’s resilience strategy. Through a holistic approach combining science, innovation, and policy, Canada can serve as a model for equitable climate solutions across the globe.