A new report finds that climate change impacts could leave Canadians physically and financially under water as a warming and increasingly volatile climate damages public and private infrastructure. Homes, buildings, and critical infrastructure are all at risk, unless new investment and improved regulation make these assets more resilient to the changing climate.
“Climate change is a massive threat to the public and private infrastructure that underpins Canada’s prosperity,” said Ryan Ness, adaptation research director at the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices. “The challenge for governments today is to rapidly shift how infrastructure decisions are made in ways that factor in a changing climate. If these investments are planned wisely, Canada’s infrastructure can be the foundation of a resilient, low-carbon future.”
Under Water: The Costs of Climate Change for Canada’s Infrastructure is the largest study to date of these kinds of impacts, according to the Institute. The report focuses on three types of climate change impacts to some of Canada’s most vital infrastructure: flooding of homes and buildings, damage to roads and rails, and impacts on Canada’s electricity grids. Findings include:
- Flood damage to homes and buildings could increase fivefold by mid-century and tenfold by end of century, with costs as high as $13.6B annually.
- Damage to roads and railways could increase by up to $5.4B annually by mid-century and by as much as $12.8B annually by end of century.
- Costs to repair and maintain electrical infrastructure could more than double by mid-century and triple by end of century, costing up to $4.1B annually.
“As Canada wakes up to the reality of a rapidly changing climate, there’s no better or more urgently needed investment than in climate-resilient infrastructure that helps us reduce carbon emissions,” said Alyson Slater, senior director of sustainable finance at the Global Risk Institute. “Responsible management of physical climate risk in the financial sector is critical for turning risky investments into resilient ones.”
The Institute’s report concludes with specific recommendations for governments to direct public and private investment toward more resilient infrastructure—changes that will save the country billions of dollars in reduced loss and damage.
Among the cost savings of proactive investment identified:
- Shoreline protection and moving homes out of high-risk areas can reduce the future costs of coastal flooding by up to 90 per cent.
- Repaving roads with resilient materials can reduce costs by over 90 per cent.
- Using resilient materials when updating electrical infrastructure can reduce damage costs by 80 per cent.
“A consensus is emerging that climate change and its fallout will have significant impacts on economies, financial systems, and the companies that operate within them,” said Davinder Valeri, director of strategic risk and performance at Chartered Professional Accountants Canada. “For informed and effective decision making going forward, it is essential that all aspects of costs associated with climate change be captured. Improved disclosure of climate-related financial risks is key to incorporating long-term resiliency into our infrastructure planning.”
