While governments across the country quarrel over the status and future of the federal carbon tax, adaptation measures are not being adequately prioritized in Canada’s fight against the effects of climate change.
Eight provincial premiers have opposed April’s increase in the carbon tax, which aims to reduce emissions. Most have called for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the issue, which he has so far declined.
While that debate continues, it has drawn attention away from the need to tangibly adapt the country for another summer of damaging climate-related events.
Funding shortfall
When Canada released its National Adaptation Strategy in 2023, the Canadian Climate Institute, an independent research organization, said “the federal government needs to move quickly to fund and implement it to insulate Canadians from the growing threat and mounting costs of climate disasters.”
It’s not clear that is happening.
Sarah Miller, research lead on the institute’s adaptation team, acknowledges that “reducing emissions has definitely dominated the national conversation” but believes adaptation is also needed.
