This tip sheet will help you answer:

• How do we develop competencies required to complete climate risk assessments?
• How do we assess the risk of climate impacts we have identified? And how do we do so in a way that is informed by Reconciliation and anti-racism, equity and inclusion (AREI)?

Getting started

Develop your capacity to assess local climate risks.

This involves enhancing your organization’s skills, knowledge, experience and tools to analyze and evaluate climate impacts.

How can you develop the skills, knowledge, experience and tools needed to assess local climate risks?

Here are some tips to help you get started.

Addressing climate change requires diverse tools and people with skills, knowledge and experience from various disciplines, backgrounds and educations. You likely have people within your organization who have relevant competencies (for example, those identified in Tip sheet: Start preparing for climate risk assessment and adaptation plan.) Where you have gaps in competencies, there are some steps you can take to address them.

Here is an overview of skills, knowledge, experience and tools that are relevant to analyzing and evaluating local climate risks and some actions you can take to fill gaps you may have: 
 

Skills and knowledge

Skill and knowledge category	Description of skill and knowledge
Community context	your community’s specific needs, values and concerns
Basic climate science literacy	the causes and impacts of climate change, the science behind climate information and how climate trends influence hazards
Indigenous knowledges	the historical and current practices, processes, protocols and experiences of local and regional First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous Peoples communities and organizations
Risk assessment techniques	how to identify, analyze and evaluate risks, including understanding probabilities and consequences
Information management	how to collect, manage and interpret climate data
Communications and engagement	how to work with and involve local and regional First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous Peoples communities and organizations as well as other jurisdictions, institutions, organizations, communities of practice and/or stakeholders how to work with equity-deserving communities in Canada
Institutional knowledge	Lessons learned and other reflections from past projects and initiatives.

 

Here are some ways to fill skills and knowledge gaps: 

• Identify organizations in your region who are doing climate work and may be able to support you. These could include, for example, universities or non-profit organizations.
• Attend workshops on climate science fundamentals and other climate resilience training opportunities such as those listed on the Green Municipal Fund’s page Climate resilience training from GMF Partners.
• Purchase or acquire access to tools such as ICLEI’s Building Adaptive and Resilience Communities (BARC) Online Tool.  

Tip: The Canadian Centre for Climate Services hosts a Library of climate resources. 

• Identify and reach out to representatives of different community groups to participate in their processes.
• Hire qualified consultants.
• Apply for government funding to support capacity-building initiatives.

Experience

Category of experience	Description of experience
Organizational experience	working with your organization’s processes, procedures, infrastructure systems and services
Previous climate or related projects	contributing to similar projects that can provide practical insight
Cross-departmental collaboration	working on initiatives with different municipal departments
Relationship building	developing meaningful and trusting relationships with community members

 

Some examples of activities to fill experience gaps include: 

• Pair less experienced staff with long-term employees to share institutional knowledge and lessons learned.
• Conduct an organization-wide survey to see who already considers climate change in their work and in what ways.
• Work with universities to develop co-op work experience programs.
• Partner with non-governmental organizations.
   

Browse the Green Municipal Fund’s website for a comprehensive list of reports, guides, case studies, templates and more to help fill gaps in skills, knowledge and experience.

Assess climate risks across your community.

Use the skills, knowledge and experience you have to effectively assess climate risks in a way that accounts for the varied impacts of climate change on different people and areas within your community.

Without prior experience, how can we assess local climate risks?

Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Use a framework that meets your needs.

There are many resources that include risk assessment frameworks useful for climate risk assessments and adaptation planning. These include, for example: 

• ICLEI’s Changing Climate, Changing Communities: Guide and Workbook for Municipal Climate Adaptation and C40 Cities’ Climate Change Risk Assessment Guidance are useful if you are planning a  community-wide assessment on various services and sectors.
• Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC)’s Large Portfolio Assessment Manual can be used if you are focusing your assessment on impacts to infrastructure assets.

2. Familiarize yourself with the foundations of a climate risk assessment. 

Regardless of the framework you choose, there are foundational concepts that underpin the climate risk assessment process. Climate risk, as defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is the “potential for adverse consequences.” It is a function of three things: the likelihood of a climate-related event (a climate hazard) occurring, the vulnerability of the systems it affects and the potential impacts of the event. To conduct a climate risk assessment, you need to consider the following:

 

Identify a local climate hazard.

Common questions to answer:	For example:
What climate hazards has my community faced? What climate hazards does/will my community face?	Those you identified in Tip sheet: Start preparing for climate risk assessment and adaptation plan.

 

Estimate the likelihood of an event related to that climate hazard.

Common questions to answer:	For example:
How often has this climate hazard occurred historically? What do climate models predict about the future frequency and intensity of this hazard?	Likelihood scores as outlined in the ICLEI Changing Climate, Changing Community: Guide and Workbook for Municipal Climate Adaptation Worksheet 8 Risk Assessment

 

Assess your community’s vulnerability to the climate-related event.

Common questions to answer:

For example:

How able is our community to adjust to changes, minimize damage, take advantage of opportunities and cope with the effects of climate change? Are there people, livelihoods, species, ecosystems, infrastructure or cultural assets in our community that could be negatively impacted by climate change? Which areas and populations in our community are most vulnerable to this hazard? What factors contribute to their vulnerability (e.g., socio-economic status, infrastructure quality, health conditions)?

Vulnerability ratings outlined in the ICLEI Changing Climate, Changing Community: Guide and Workbook for Municipal Climate Adaptation Worksheet 7 Vulnerability Assessment

 

Determine the potential impacts of the climate-related event.

Common questions to answer:	For example:
What are the potential consequences of this climate hazard on the components within the scale of our climate risk assessment?	Those you identified in Tip sheet: Start identifying local climate impacts.

Next steps

Once you have assessed local climate risks, you will be in a good position to start developing your climate adaptation plan. For support on getting started with this next phase of work, read Tip sheet: Start climate adaptation planning.

Explore the Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool for additional insight and support in analyzing and evaluating local climate risks. You can use the tool to evaluate your existing climate adaptation efforts, pinpoint areas for improvement and chart a clear plan for strengthening your community’s adaptation efforts. 
 

You may have already done some groundwork by considering local climate changes, setting boundaries for your project, figuring out what information you have and what you still need, and bringing together people with the right skills. With this preparatory work in place, you will want to start identifying the climate impacts in your area.

Tip: If you have not done this preparatory work or are about to start it, read Tip sheet: Start preparing for climate risk assessment and adaptation plan.

This tip sheet will help you answer:

• How can we use national or regional climate information to understand climate change in our local area?
• What climate hazards are relevant to my community right now? And how might they change in the future?
• How will different people and parts of my community be affected by climate change?

Getting started

Understand local climate changes

This means connecting climate information to events like extreme heat, heavy rainfall, flooding, drought and sea-level rise.

How can you identify and understand the climate changes relevant to your community?

Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Identify local climate information.

Your assessment will likely include two types of climate information: qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative information typically includes historical and future weather and climate data as well as numerical likelihood and impact scores, while qualitative information typically includes information acquired through experience and observation.

ClimateData.ca has a glossary of key terms that can help you identify and interpret information about local climate impacts.

Both types of climate information are available from many different sources and at various scales, ranging from international to local scales. While it’s important to keep the broader climate change context in mind, your focus should be on how your local climate is changing and will continue to change. Resources like ClimateData.ca and Climate Atlas of Canada can help by providing downscaled climate information specific to your location. You might also already have climate information on hand; for example, operations staff may have recorded information about your community’s response to past climate events such as floods or wildfires.

The Climate Atlas of Canada has Indigenous map layers with climate data for First Nations, Inuit communities and Métis homelands. It also provides resources to learn about Indigenous knowledges and climate change. You can find more on the Climate Atlas of Canada’s page about Indigenous knowledges.

 

At this stage, you should also identify which community members you will seek information from and how. For example,

• engaging local and regional First Nations, Métis and Inuit individuals, communities and organizations according to their engagement protocols
• hosting community dinners for urban Indigenous people
• conducting interviews with local businesses
• facilitating focus-group sessions with representatives from local organizations such as advocacy groups and volunteer organizations
• conducting an online survey to gather input from the public

2. Interpreting local climate change information

Processing large amounts of climate change information can be overwhelming. To make sense of it, look at what the data says about past and future key climate indicators within various categories. For example:

• indicators related to temperature: mean summer temperature, the number of days above a specified temperature threshold, the length of a frost-free season
• indicators related to precipitation: number of days with a rainfall amount above a specified precipitation threshold, maximum amount of precipitation in a single day, number of consecutive dry days
• indicators related to sea ice: total area of sea ice, proportion of sea ice area made up of multi-year sea ice

More climate indicators are outlined and discussed in the Government of Canada’s page about climate indicators.

Patterns in these climate indicators are used to describe climate hazards. The process you use will depend on the information you are using and the risk assessment framework you are working within. For example:

Scenario 1: You start by selecting a climate indicator to investigate temperature indicators. 

Using ClimateData.ca, you find and record the historical and projected (future) number of days with temperatures greater than 32 °C and find:

• historical: 0
• future: 3

Your interpretation of this information is that you can expect to see more frequent very hot days. You might decide to record your findings like this:

Climate indicator	In the past, we have experienced…	In the future, we can expect to experience…	Climate hazard	Information source(s)
Temperature	0 days where temperature reaches > 32 °C	3 days where temperature reaches > 32 °C	Extreme heat	ClimateData.ca

 

Scenario 2: You start by identifying a climate hazard relevant to your community.

Your community experienced a flood last year that caused significant infrastructure damage. From conversations with members of the local First Nation, you learn that the local landscape has been changed by flooding numerous times in the past. Using the Climate Atlas of Canada’s climate change map, you see that the amount of rain to fall in your region on the wettest day of the year is expected to increase from 28 mm to 31 mm, an increase of 9 %. You can record your findings like this:

Climate indicator	In the past, we have experienced…	In the future, we can expect to experience…	Climate hazard	Information source(s)
Flooding	28 mm of rain on the wettest day of the year damage to infrastructure by floods landscape changes due to flooding	31 mm of rain on the wettest day of the year	Flooding	local knowledge Climate Atlas of Canada

Understand local climate change impacts

Understanding past, present and future local climate conditions and associated hazards is part of knowing how your community may be impacted by climate change. Various places and people in your community will experience these impacts differently. That means you will need a good understanding of both the climate changes and the unique context and characteristics of your community.

How can you develop an understanding of the impacts climate hazards have on your community in a way that accounts for your community’s unique and diverse characteristics?

Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Identify impact(s) of each climate event.

Identifying the potential impact of a climate event involves asking yourself, “If or when this climate hazard occurs, what will the outcome be?” Some key considerations that will help you answer this question are:

• What and who will be impacted? Identify what and who will be impacted within the scale you have chosen.
• How will it/they be affected? Describe the effect.

Climate hazard	What and who will be impacted?	How will it/they be affected?
Wildfires	Community	The young, elderly, and those living with existing health conditions may experience greater health impacts of smoke inhalation. Those experiencing houselessness may not have access to evacuation support services.
	Environment	Biodiversity loss may occur. Habitat destruction can result from severe climate events.
	Municipal facilities	Evacuation centres may be overwhelmed. Regular municipal functions may not be able to run.

 

2. Characterize the identified impacts.

For each climate impact, it can be helpful to describe some characteristics. For example, is the climate impact:

• Indirect or direct?
  • direct impacts: These are immediate consequences of a climate hazard. For example, the direct impact of extreme heat could be heatstroke and dehydration.
  • indirect impacts: These are secondary effects that occur because of the direct impacts. For example, an indirect impact of flooding could be the disruption of supply chains due to damaged transportation infrastructure.
• Positive or negative?
  • negative impacts: They harm the physical boundaries, service areas and/or thematic components within your established scale. For example, the negative impacts of sea-level rise could be coastal erosion and loss of animal habitat.
  • positive impacts: They can benefit the physical boundaries, service areas and/or thematic components within your established scale. For example, a positive impact of warmer temperatures is an extended growing season for certain crops.

There are many ways to organize this information. What is most important is that the approach you take works for your organization. ICLEI’s Changing Climate, Changing Communities: Guide and Workbook for Municipal Climate Adaptation Worksheet 6(b) offers a good start for a community-level assessment outline.

Next steps

Once you have identified climate impacts in your community, you will be in a good position to assess climate risks and select the best course of action for your community. For support on getting started with this next phase of work, read Tip sheet: Start assessing your local climate risks.

Explore the Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool for additional insight and support in identifying local climate impacts. You can use the tool to evaluate your existing climate adaptation efforts, pinpoint areas for improvement and chart a clear plan for strengthening your community’s adaptation efforts.

Are you searching for best-in-class and tested resources to help your local government adapt to the challenges of climate change? Check out our curated list of reports, guides, case studies, templates and more, all aimed at supporting you in advancing your community’s climate resilience. 

Our library is organized according to the stages in the adaptation process that many local governments move through during climate resilience work. It is intended for communities in Canada across a range of population sizes, climate readiness levels and climate impacts. We have prioritized resources that centre an equity lens, feature nature-positive solutions and are from the past five years. 

Libraries

These Canadian resource libraries and databases are aimed at a municipal audience to help you find the information and tools most relevant to your needs.

Title	Source	Type	Description
Climate Insight	ICLEI	Portal	This portal features a comprehensive array of climate information, data and tools to advance resilient infrastructure planning. It includes: a map layering socioeconomic, infrastructure, and climate data; a resource library; a learning centre with information on climate impacts; and a solutions finder questionnaire to find tailored resources.
Climate-Related Resources for Local Governments	Government of Canada	Library	This page focuses on risk assessments and adaptation planning. It contains links to climate datasets, tools, guidance and related resources from sources including the federal government, provincial and territorial governments and established international organizations.
CLIMAtlantic AdaptationLibrary	CLIMAtlantic	Library	This library holds a vast collection of climate adaptation documents and tools relevant to Atlantic Canada and beyond.
ClimateData.ca	Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners	Portal	This portal provides recent climate data in accessible formats to support decision-makers. The website’s learning zone provides materials and training to help people better understand climate science.
Climate Atlas of Canada	Prairie Climate Centre	Library	This interactive tool integrates climate science, mapping, videography and storytelling to enhance users’ understanding of climate change in Canada and to inspire action.
Resources, Natural and Nature-Based Climate Change Adaptation Community of Practice	New Brunswick Environmental Network	Library	This page is dedicated to peer-to-peer learning, information exchange and sharing of best practices on natural and nature-based climate change adaptation approaches. The website’s resources section includes a cost/analysis tool, video courses, webinar recordings and a resource library.
Ouranos website	Ouranos	Library	Ouranos is a Quebec-based collaborative innovative hub bringing together a diverse consortium of experts and decision-makers. Their website holds a vast array of data-driven reports, scientific studies and other publications and learning materials.
ORCCA Resource Library	Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation	Library	This searchable library contains resources and tools to support adaptation work in Ontario, including reports, videos and infographics.
Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium Publications Library	Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium	Library	This repository contains technical and scientific resources on climate impacts, particularly in the Pacific and Yukon regions.
ClimateWest Publications Library	ClimateWest	Library	This library of publications provides climate information relevant to Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan, including a repository of reports and guides on climate adaptation.
Intact Centre Reports and Resources	Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation	Library	This collection includes recent reports, infographics and press releases on climate adaptation.
Asset Management Ontario Case Studies	Asset Management Ontario	Case studies	A collection of Ontario-based case studies introducing asset management themes through a climate change lens.
ReTooling Climate Change Adaptation Resources	ReTooling for Climate Change	Library	This searchable database of adaptation tools and resources can be filtered by topic, adaptation stage, resource type and region.
Climate Caucus Handbooks	Climate Caucus	Guide	This collection of toolkits offers inspiring examples, best practices, case studies, sample motions and more to support local government climate action in areas including adaptation and climate justice.

 

Multi-stage resources

These comprehensive resources offer insight on multiple stages of the adaptation process.

Title	Source	Type	Description
Changing Climate, Changing Communities: Guide and Workbook for Municipal Climate Adaptation	ICLEI	Guide	This guidebook acts as a framework, built around milestones, to assist local governments in creating their adaptation plans. It is accompanied by a 17-sheet workbook to help guide the process.
Climate Change Adaptation Resource Pathway	Natural Resources Canada	Tool	This interactive tool guides adaptation practitioners at all levels through a vast array of information and tools related to climate adaptation.
Equitable Climate Adaptation: Considerations for Local Governments	ICLEI	Guide	This resource provides examples and promising practices to dismantle the barriers that prevent local governments from centering equity and community engagement in their adaptation measures.
National Adaptation Strategy	Government of Canada	Strategy	The federal government’s national adaptation strategy, launched in 2022.
Factsheet: Why equity matters in municipal climate adaptation	FCM	Factsheet	This factsheet demystifies the concept of “equitable climate adaptation” by outlining important terminology, explaining why equity matters and discussing how a multi-solving approach that centres equity is integral to successful risk reduction.
Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation Planning Toolkit & Course	Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources	Training	This free, asynchronous online course teaches participants how to use the six guidebooks that comprise the Indigenous Climate Change Adaptation Planning Toolkit developed by CIER.

 

People, partnerships and governance

People, partnerships and governance are the backbone of an effective adaptation journey. They involve securing council commitment and establishing governance structures, resourcing and relationships for internal and external collaboration. Equally important are awareness, education, and engagement activities that meaningfully involve equity-deserving communities.

Title	Source	Type	Description
For our future: Indigenous Resilience Report	Natural Resources Canada	Report	This Indigenous-led report highlights Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and experiences related to climate change impacts and adaptation.
Integrating Climate Considerations: Governance and Operations	FCM	Guide	This resource equips users to integrate climate change considerations into day-to-day municipal operations and governance, highlighting the role of every municipal employee in addressing climate change impacts and providing guidance on questions to ask and tools to use for effective climate action.
Talking it through: Guide for local government staff on climate adaptation	FCM	Guide	This guide supports local government staff in speaking with senior decision-makers and elected officials about climate change and the need to build resilience. It includes various tools and case studies to help guide this work.
Learning Journey: Climate Resilience and Asset Management	FCM	Toolkit	This four-part learning journey consists of an instruction video, two factsheets and a guide to help users navigate the steps of integrating climate resilience into municipal asset management.
Getting Started: Exploring Entry Points into Adaptation	ICLEI	Guide	This resource offers comprehensive guidance on integrating climate change adaptation into municipal decision-making, emphasizing diverse entry points such as asset management, public health and land use planning.
10: A Guide to Advancing Climate Equity Through Place-Based Collaboration	Tamarack Institute	Guide	This comprehensive guide on collaborative, place-based approaches to advancing climate equity is comprised of 10 questions to assess readiness, 10 great ideas, 10 inspiring stories, 10 useful resources and 10 ways to get started.
Practice Guide for Advancing Climate Equity in Coastal Climate Change Adaptation	SHIFT Collaborative, prepared for Natural Resources Canada	Guide	This practical guide offers guiding principles, reflection prompts and potential actions to embed equity in coastal climate change adaptation projects across all stages, from ideation to monitoring and review.
Factsheet: Applying an Indigenous Inclusion Lens to Climate Adaptation	FCM	Factsheet	This factsheet highlights how integrating an Indigenous lens and Indigenous knowledge into climate strategies can enhance resilience and strengthen environmental strategies, as well as contribute to broader goals related to Reconciliation.
Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool	FCM	Tool	This tool helps local governments evaluate and improve their climate adaptation strategies through a comprehensive self-assessment and customizable roadmap. The tool offers a clear framework for understanding current resiliency, identifying priority areas for progress, and integrating climate adaptation into municipal processes.
Course: Building Climate Resilience with Asset Management	FCM	Training	This self-paced online course designed for municipal practitioners equips participants with strategies to integrate climate action into asset management planning, including setting levels of service through a resilience lens.
National Guide for Wildland-Urban Interface Fires	National Research Council of Canada	Guide	This guide provides research-based best practices on reducing the impact of wildfires in urban-wildland interfaces, including assessing hazards, managing vegetation and construction and enhancing community and emergency planning measures.

 

Risk and adaptation planning

Risk and adaptation planning begins with identifying and evaluating local climate data, risks and vulnerabilities to assess the potential impacts of climate change on a community, including through an equity lens. This assessment then informs the development of a climate adaptation plan, which outlines actions, priorities and objectives to reduce vulnerabilities and increase climate resilience.

Title	Source	Type	Description
ClimateData.ca	Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners	Portal	This portal provides recent climate data in accessible formats to support decision-makers. The website’s learning zone provides materials and training to help people better understand climate science.
Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) Resources	PIEVC	Library	This website contains a variety of information and tools—including a resource catalogue, assessment tool and protocol—that can be used to inform engineering decisions to integrate adaptation measures into infrastructure.
Canada’s Changing Climate Report	Environment and Climate Change Canada	Report	This extensive report, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada and published in 2019, discusses the factors propelling climate change and projections for the future.
Learning Journey: Climate Resilience and Asset Management	FCM	Toolkit	This four-part learning journey consists of an instruction video, two factsheets and a guide to help users navigate the steps of integrating climate resilience into municipal asset management.
Getting Started: Exploring Entry Points into Adaptation	ICLEI	Guide	This resource offers comprehensive guidance on integrating climate change adaptation into municipal decision-making, emphasizing diverse entry points such as asset management, public health and land use planning.
Municipal Flood Risk Check-Up	Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation	Tool	This self-assessment questionnaire helps municipalities assess their specific flood hazards and implement preparedness measures. The resource includes a tool, a report and an infographic.
HealthyPlan.City	The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE)	Map	This interactive map, with integrated case studies, can be used to analyze various environmental health inequities and inform equity-based adaptation planning. Data is currently available for municipalities larger than 30,000 residents.
From Risk to Resilience: Indigenous Alternatives to Climate Risk Assessment in Canada	Yellowhead Institute	Report	This report presents an approach to risk assessment that is rooted in Indigenous knowledges and takes a holistic view of the broader social-ecological system, in contrast with “standard” risk assessments, which tend to prioritize built infrastructure.
Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool	FCM	Tool	This tool helps local governments evaluate and improve their climate adaptation strategies through a comprehensive self-assessment and customizable roadmap. The tool offers a clear framework for understanding current resiliency, identifying priority areas for progress, and integrating climate adaptation into municipal processes.
Course: Building Climate Resilience with Asset Management	FCM	Training	This self-paced online course designed for municipal practitioners equips participants with strategies to integrate climate action into asset management planning, including setting levels of service through a resilience lens.
National Guide for Wildland-Urban Interface Fires	National Research Council of Canada	Guide	This guide provides research-based best practices on reducing the impact of wildfires in urban-wildland interfaces, including assessing hazards, managing vegetation and construction and enhancing community and emergency planning measures.

 

Implementation and integration

Implementation and integration involve putting your climate adaptation plan into action by embedding it into organizational systems, processes and decision-making across departments. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation help local governments track progress toward adaptation objectives and refine implementation strategies along the way.

Title	Source	Type	Description
Nature is Infrastructure: How to Include Natural Assets in Asset Management Plans	Natural Assets Initiative	Guide	This guidebook aims to help local governments integrate natural asset management into their planning by bridging the gap between mainstream infrastructure practices and natural asset solutions.
Integrating Climate Considerations: Governance and Operations	FCM	Guide	This resource equips users to integrate climate change considerations into day-to-day municipal operations and governance, highlighting the role of every municipal employee in addressing climate change impacts and providing guidance on questions to ask and tools to use for effective climate action.
Tools: Operations and Maintenance for Climate Resilience	FCM	Tool	This page provides strategies and tools to help municipalities integrate climate considerations into their daily operations and maintenance activities, offering resources such as handbooks, worksheets, and factsheets tailored to different asset classes.
Case Study Series: Using Climate Data to Drive Adaptation	FCM	Case studies	These case studies show how five municipalities used data from the Canadian Centre for Climate Services to improve their resilience.
Talking it through: Guide for local government staff on climate adaptation	FCM	Guide	This guide supports local government staff in speaking with senior decision-makers and elected officials about climate change and the need to build resilience. It includes various tools and case studies to help guide this work.
Learning Journey: Climate Resilience and Asset Management	FCM	Toolkit	This four-part learning journey consists of an instruction video, two factsheets and a guide to help users navigate the steps of integrating climate resilience into municipal asset management.
Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool	FCM	Tool	This tool helps local governments evaluate and improve their climate adaptation strategies through a comprehensive self-assessment and customizable roadmap. The tool offers a clear framework for understanding current resiliency, identifying priority areas for progress, and integrating
Course: Building Climate Resilience with Asset Management	FCM	Training	This self-paced online course designed for municipal practitioners equips participants with strategies to integrate climate action into asset management planning, including setting levels of service through a resilience lens.
National Guide for Wildland-Urban Interface Fires	National Research Council of Canada	Guide	This guide provides research-based best practices on reducing the impact of wildfires in urban-wildland interfaces, including assessing hazards, managing vegetation and construction and enhancing community and emergency planning measures.

 

Project design

Project design shapes concrete actions that follow up on priorities and opportunities identified through a risk assessment or climate adaptation plan. This phase takes into account factors such as resources, capacity and equity, and involves multiple activities: setting goals and objectives, assessing existing relevant plans and tools that could guide the work, engaging rights holders and stakeholders, assigning roles and responsibilities, and project scoping.

Title	Source	Type	Description
Map of Adaptation Actions	Government of Canada and partners	Library	This interactive, searchable map rounds up case studies of adaptation actions undertaken across Canada.
ClimateData.ca	Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners	Portal	This portal provides recent climate data in accessible formats to support decision-makers. The website’s learning zone provides materials and training to help people better understand climate science.
Case Study Map, Natural and Nature-based Climate Change Adaptation Community of Practice	New Brunswick Environmental Network	Case studies	This map offers details about projects throughout Canada that employ nature-based methods to either mitigate or adapt to climate change.
Codes, Standards and Guidance for Climate Resilience	Infrastructure Canada	Guide	This resource outlines the impact of climate change on Canada’s infrastructure, highlighting the importance of integrating climate resilience considerations into infrastructure planning and decision-making, and shares initiatives to enhance climate resilience through standards, codes and adaptation strategies.
Natural Assets Bolster Climate Resilience	FCM	Library	This page provides resources to help municipalities enhance their understanding, valuation and management of green infrastructure.
Nature-based Infrastructure for Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management: A Canadian Design Guide	National Research Council Canada	Guide	This detailed guide provides evidence-based and technical guidance on selecting, designing and adaptively managing nature-based infrastructure for coastal flood and erosion risk management in Canada.
10: A Guide to Advancing Climate Equity Through Place-Based Collaboration	Tamarack Institute	Guide	This comprehensive guide on collaborative, place-based approaches to advancing climate equity is comprised of 10 questions to assess readiness, 10 great ideas, 10 inspiring stories, 10 useful resources and 10 ways to get started.
Adaptation Actions to Implement Climate Resilience	FCM	Tool	This tool provides extensive examples of adaptation projects, categorized by project type and including information on hazards addressed, co-benefits and tips to maximize impact.
Factsheets: Working with nature to improve infrastructure project outcomes	FCM	Factsheet	This factsheet outlines benefits of and strategies for integrating nature-based solutions into infrastructure project planning, including best practices to enhance biodiversity and a case study.
Practice Guide for Advancing Climate Equity in Coastal Climate Change Adaptation	SHIFT Collaborative, prepared for Natural Resources Canada	Guide	This practical guide offers guiding principles, reflection prompts and potential actions to embed equity in coastal climate change adaptation projects across all stages, from ideation to monitoring and review.
Climate Ready Infrastructure Service	Canadian Urban Institute	Expert Consultation	This capacity-building initiative offers small municipalities and Indigenous communities free guidance from a roster of climate and infrastructure experts to integrate climate resilience into infrastructure projects.
National Guide for Wildland-Urban Interface Fires	National Research Council of Canada	Guide	This guide provides research-based best practices on reducing the impact of wildfires in urban-wildland interfaces, including assessing hazards, managing vegetation and construction and enhancing community and emergency planning measures.

 

Project implementation

Project implementation involves putting the project design into action, which often requires procuring expertise and resources. This phase continues to rely on meaningful engagement, collaboration and communication to keep the project on course to meet objectives and achieve equitable impacts.

Title	Source	Type	Description
Map of Adaptation Actions	Government of Canada and partners	Library	This interactive, searchable map rounds up case studies of adaptation actions undertaken across Canada.
Case Study Map, Natural and Nature-based Climate Change Adaptation Community of Practice	New Brunswick Environmental Network	Case studies	This map offers details about projects throughout Canada that employ nature-based methods to either mitigate or adapt to climate change.
Nature-based Infrastructure for Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management: A Canadian Design Guide	National Research Council Canada	Guide	This detailed guide provides evidence-based and technical guidance on selecting, designing and adaptively managing nature-based infrastructure for coastal flood and erosion risk management in Canada.
Adaptation Actions to Implement Climate Resilience	FCM	Tool	This tool provides extensive examples of adaptation projects, categorized by project type and including information on hazards addressed, co-benefits and tips to maximize impact.
Practice Guide for Advancing Climate Equity in Coastal Climate Change Adaptation	SHIFT Collaborative, prepared for Natural Resources Canada	Guide	This practical guide offers guiding principles, reflection prompts and potential actions to embed equity in coastal climate change adaptation projects across all stages, from ideation to monitoring and review.

 

Project monitoring and evaluation

Project monitoring and evaluation assesses and measures a project’s impact once implementation has begun. Through a combination of data-based indicators and stakeholder engagement, project leaders gauge progress towards predefined objectives related to climate resiliency, social equity and more. Regular reporting, communication and outreach are essential to keep rights holders and stakeholders engaged. Insights from ongoing evaluation can inform and be used to adapt implementation strategies and project maintenance, while also providing opportunities to share success stories and lessons learned.

Title	Source	Type	Description
Canada’s Changing Climate Report	Environment and Climate Change Canada	Report	This extensive report, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada and published in 2019, discusses the factors propelling climate change and projections for the future.
Case Study Series: Using Climate Data to Drive Adaptation	FCM	Case studies	These case studies show how five municipalities used data from the Canadian Centre for Climate Services to improve their resilience.
Learning Journey: Climate Resilience and Asset Management	FCM	Toolkit	This four-part learning journey consists of an instruction video, two factsheets and a guide to help users navigate the steps of integrating climate resilience into municipal asset management.
Nature-based Infrastructure for Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management: A Canadian Design Guide	National Research Council Canada	Guide	This detailed guide provides evidence-based and technical guidance on selecting, designing and adaptively managing nature-based infrastructure for coastal flood and erosion risk management in Canada.
Practice Guide for Advancing Climate Equity in Coastal Climate Change Adaptation	SHIFT Collaborative, prepared for Natural Resources Canada	Guide	This practical guide offers guiding principles, reflection prompts and potential actions to embed equity in coastal climate change adaptation projects across all stages, from ideation to monitoring and review.
Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool	FCM	Tool	This tool helps local governments evaluate and improve their climate adaptation strategies through a comprehensive self-assessment and customizable roadmap. The tool offers a clear framework for understanding current resiliency, identifying priority areas for progress, and integrating climate adaptation into municipal processes.

 

Financing adaptation

Financing adaptation involves building confidence in climate resilience financial models and fostering investment in climate adaptation by developing sustainable and equitable models. This includes attracting public and private investors to help finance resilient infrastructure.

Title	Source	Type	Description
Cost of doing nothing: A Toolbox for Building a Local Business Case for Adaptation	ICLEI	Toolkit	This toolbox helps municipalities assess the costs of inaction and supports climate adaptation planning by providing guidance on collecting local data and contextualizing it nationally and provincially/territorially.
Investing in Canada’s future: The cost of climate adaptation	FCM	Report	This report highlights the pressing requirement for substantial investments in local climate adaptation, emphasizing the critical role of such investments in helping communities adapt to climate change and mitigate risks from extreme weather events.
Financing Resilient Infrastructure Project	ICLEI	Toolkit	This page describes a collaborative effort in 2023 to identify and prepare resilient infrastructure projects for financing, aiming to leverage private capital alongside public funding to address climate impacts, and shares a toolkit on financing such projects.
Getting Nature into Financial Reporting: Natural Asset Disclosures for Local Governments	Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation	Guide	This guide helps local governments integrate the financial value of the services provided by natural assets such as wetlands, rivers and forests into their financial reports.

 

Municipalities across Canada are navigating complex challenges and require solutions that can address multiple issues at once. This webinar explores how sustainability projects can deliver lasting socioeconomic benefits—and how you can leverage this knowledge to strengthen your Green Municipal Fund (GMF) grant and loan applications.

This session will help you understand the multi-solving approach to local sustainability projects that not only reduce diverse sources of greenhouse gas emissions, but also improve budget management, climate resilience, biodiversity and social well-being. Our panelists highlighted practical examples of net-zero builds and retrofits that have delivered both environmental and socioeconomic benefits, and explained how you can integrate these concepts into your GMF funding applications.

What you will learn:  

• How multi-solving and co-benefits in sustainability projects can help meet broader municipal goals.
• Key insights into GMF application requirements related to multi-solving and co-benefits, and how they can improve your application’s success and your project’s outcomes.
• Ways to incorporate socioeconomic benefits into net-zero builds and retrofits.
• Real-world case studies of municipalities leveraging sustainability for environmental and social gains.

Speakers:  

• Dr. Anabela Bonada, Managing Director, Climate Science, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo
• Marcos Alejandro Badra, Program Manager, Circular Economy, City of Richmond, British Columbia
• Maria Adelaida Fernandez, Socio-Economics Benefits Specialist, Green Municipal Fund

This webinar delves into actionable fleet electrification strategies essential for municipalities pursuing net-zero by 2050. As communities increase efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this session equips you with the frameworks needed to secure funding, build charging infrastructure and foster EV adoption especially in small and rural communities.

Hear from GMF experts, municipal leaders and industry specialists as they showcase real-world experiences, proven best practices and targeted resources that demonstrate how to achieve cost-effective, climate-resilient approaches to support a smooth transition in communities of all sizes.

This webinar was delivered in English with simultaneous interpretation in French.

Watch the webinar recording to learn more about:

• The opportunities and challenges of municipal fleet electrification, including real-world adoption strategies.
• Best practices for procuring and installing EV charging infrastructure.
• The financial and environmental benefits of fleet electrification, with strategies to support cost-effective, long-term sustainability.
• Real-world success stories from municipalities leading the way in EV adoption.
• Practical steps your municipality can take to plan and implement a smooth and climate-resilient fleet transition.

Panelists:

• Donna Reardon – Mayor, Saint John  
• Benoit Lacroix – CEO, ReliON  
• Ashley Smith – Owner & Managing Director, Fundamental Inc  
• Noémie De Vuyst – Advisor, Programs Outreach, Green Municipal Fund
• Kevin Loughery – Director of Saint John Transit   

The Green Municipal Fund (GMF), funded by the Government of Canada, helps municipalities electrify fleets with expert support and funding for cost-effective, climate-resilient net-zero solutions.
 

This tip sheet will help you answer:  

• What should I include in the scope for my climate risk assessment?
• What information do I need and where can I find it?
• How do I find the people with the right skills to take on this work?
• What resources will help me do this work? 

Getting started 

Define the scope of your work.

How can you figure out the right scope for your climate risk assessment to make sure it fits your community's needs and addresses the most important areas? 

This involves tailoring your approach to your community’s unique context and priorities by outlining:

• your community’s needs and objectives -> Why are you undertaking this climate risk assessment and adaptation planning work?
• the climate hazards and scale of your work -> What will you be assessing and planning for?
• the approach you will use to assess risks -> How will you go about it?

Here are some tips to help you get started. 

1. Clarify your community’s need(s) and objective(s).

Climate risk assessments and adaptation plans are not one-size-fits-all. Clearly defining your community’s needs and objectives helps ensure a more focused, effective and well-supported process. 

Reflect on these questions	Example responses
Why are you undertaking the climate risk assessment and adaptation planning work?	Our community is experiencing increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. We want to ensure the long-term sustainability of our local economy and natural resources. We have to comply with regional, provincial/territorial and/or national climate policies and regulations.
What objectives does your municipality aim to achieve by developing and implementing your adaptation plan?	We want to reduce the vulnerability of our community’s critical infrastructure (e.g., facilities, structures and assets critical to community function) to climate impacts. We want to enhance public awareness and preparedness for climate-related risks. We want to integrate climate resilience into all municipal planning and decision-making processes.
What decisions do you want to inform? What outcomes are you seeking from this process?	We are aiming for improved community resilience to climate change. We hope to identify capital projects or operational activities to manage climate impacts, so we can update our capital plan and financial plans. We want increased collaboration and engagement with local stakeholders and residents on climate initiatives. We plan to develop actionable strategies and projects that address identified climate risks.

 

2. Identify what climate changes are affecting your community.

Are you aware of any climate changes that your community is facing now or that may be a concern in the future? These might include any of the following:

• wildfire
• extreme rainfall
• extreme heat
• extreme wind
• drought
• sea level rise and storm surge
• permafrost degradation
• erosion
• other

3. Choose the scale of the climate risk assessment.

In addition to identifying the climate hazards to include in your risk assessment and adaptation plan, the scale of your climate risk assessment refers to the extent of the physical boundaries, service areas and/or thematic considerations you will include. For example, you might set a:

• physical boundary: This refers to the geographic area covered by the assessment, such as the municipal boundary or specific neighbourhoods within the municipality.
• service boundary: This involves focusing on specific municipal services or departments, such as corporate services, culture and tourism, fire services or environmental services.
• asset boundary: This involves focusing on specific physical assets within the municipality that are critical to its functioning.
• hazard boundary: This means focusing on specific climate hazards that your community is currently or has experienced, such as wildfires or flooding.
• thematic boundary: This refers to different themes or areas of focus, such as the environment, public health, infrastructure or the local economy.  

A community-wide assessment covering multiple areas, services, assets and themes provides the most comprehensive understanding of local climate risks. However, the scale of the risk assessment can vary between municipalities, depending on factors such as available resources, capacities, constraints and the purposes or goals of the risk assessment and adaptation plan. When choosing the scale for your climate risk assessment, consider:  

• broader scale: For example, this would include all municipal assets and services as well as areas such as local economy and public health. A broader scale can provide a comprehensive understanding of the community-wide impacts of climate hazards, but it requires more effort and resources to go beyond a high-level scan.  
• narrower scale: For example, this would include considerations only for a single asset or service area. A narrower scale can help you be more detailed but may miss broader climate vulnerabilities in your community.  
• combination: For example, you could start with a high-level, community-wide assessment and follow with more detailed assessments for high-risk areas.

Further guidance on choosing the scale of your climate risk assessment can be found in:  

• A Community Climate Adaptation Planning Guide, part of the Climate Resilience Express Project of the All One Sky Foundation. In particular, see Step 1 Get started: determine the scope of the planning process.  
• ICLEI’s Changing Climate, Changing Community: Guide and Workbook for Municipal Climate Adaptation. In particular, see Exhibit 1 Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation Planning found at page 5 in the Guide, and also see Worksheet 6(b) Refining Impacts and Identifying Service Areas at page 14 of the Workbook.

4. Consider how you will define and measure the risks.

Your approach to the climate risk assessment should make sense for your municipality and the decisions you’re trying to inform. Consider whether you will take a top-down or bottom-up approach.

• top-down: Should your assessment be led by a small group of experts or consultants who gather and analyze community data? This method is the quicker and less complex option but could miss valuable insights from diverse perspectives, increasing the risk of overlooking certain impacts or community needs.
• bottom-up: Should you involve many people, including community members and stakeholders, in developing the assessment? This approach takes more time and effort but helps to gather diverse input and can build trust with community members and stakeholders who can help with implementation.

Does your municipality already have an approach to assessing risks? For example, has your community evaluated the risk of infrastructure failure through an asset management risk assessment? There may be opportunities to incorporate climate risks into your existing approaches. If not, there are many existing risk assessment frameworks and resources detailing the process. See Tip sheet: Start assessing your local climate risks for further details. 

 Gather relevant and trustworthy climate change information.  

This is about identifying and gathering the data you need to understand local climate change and its impacts on your community.  

When you’re new to the topic of climate change, how can you collect the information you need?  

Finding sources of information that are trustworthy and relevant to your community can be difficult, especially if staff have limited expertise related to the topic. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Consider what types of information will be used in your climate risk assessment and adaptation planning.

For guidance on selecting the types of information to include in your climate risk assessment and adaptation plan, refer to Tip sheet: Start identifying local climate impacts.

2. Take stock of what information you already have.

Not all climate information comes from resources specifically related to climate change. For example:  

• Climate projects may already be identified in your asset management plan.
• Most at-risk infrastructure may already be identified in your asset inventory.
• Your municipality’s official plan may have insights into natural hazards.
• Service requests can inform you about asset damage effects.

Neighbouring jurisdictions may have also already done climate work that you can draw on. For example, there may be a regional or district climate action plan other municipalities can pull from.

Additionally, climate information is not the only type that matters in a climate risk assessment and adaptation plan. For example, socioeconomic and organizational data are also important. You might find this useful information in community plans or initiatives. For example:

• Your housing needs report may highlight vulnerable areas due to housing issues.
• Insurers often have information on the impacts of damaging events.

3. Identify credible sources of climate information.

Identifying credible sources of climate information involves considering who published it, when it was published and last updated, and where it is relevant.  

Who	reputable organizations: Look for data published by respected organizations. For example, the Climate Atlas of Canada is an interactive tool developed by the Prairie Climate Centre and designed to help you learn about climate change and explore its impact on communities. academic institutions: Data from universities and research institutions is often peer-reviewed. government agencies: Data from national, provincial and regional government agencies is credible. For example, ClimateData.ca is an online climate data portal developed by a group of government, academic and research organizations.   local expertise: Rely on insights from local sources, including local and regional First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous Peoples communities and organizations, as well as other local jurisdictions, institutions, organizations, communities of practice and/or stakeholders. transparency: Use sources that are open about their approach to collecting and analyzing data.
When	recent: Data should be current to reflect the latest observations and projections. regular updates: Sources that are regularly updated remain relevant and accurate over time.
Where	geographic specificity: Ensure the data is specific to your location or region. Data that is too broad (e.g., national or international) may not accurately reflect local conditions and vulnerabilities. localized studies: Look for sources that provide localized studies or allow you to set your location to access tailored data.

 

For additional sources of regional climate data, refer to the “Library of climate resources” from the Canadian Centre for Climate Services. 

Bring together the needed knowledge, skills and experience.

This is about finding people within and outside your organization who can contribute to climate risk assessment and adaptation planning.  

When it seems like you need so many perspectives, how can you identify and bring together the right mix of skills, knowledge and experience to complete a climate risk assessment?

Here are some ideas on how to get started.

1. Consider who might have the skills, knowledge, and experience you need.  

Start by finding those within your organization who have relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The GMF Guide: Municipal climate change staff has a comprehensive summary of departments or staff roles and the type of support or resources they might offer.  

You can also find valuable skills, knowledge and experience from those outside of your organization, such as:

• qualified consultants for specialized skills
• academic institutions for expertise and resources
• community organizations (NGOs, community groups) for local climate information
• government services like the Climate Help Desk from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

Identify which stakeholders will need to be involved and how you will involve them. In many cases, the success of your engagement will depend on established relationships, for example, with local and regional First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous Peoples communities and organizations.

Community members have valuable and unique expertise from their lived experiences of climate change. This includes youth, the elderly, people with disabilities, people of colour, Indigenous individuals and others. Listening to and amplifying their voices is a critical part of making your climate risk assessment and adaptation planning inclusive and representative of your community. Additional resources on undertaking engagement that is informed by Reconciliation and anti-racism, equity and inclusion are outlined in Tip sheet: Start identifying local climate impacts and Tip sheet: Start climate adaptation planning.

2. Build your climate adaptation team.

Once you have identified individuals within and outside your organization who can support your climate risk assessment and adaptation planning, it can be helpful to bring these people together as a team dedicated to climate adaptation efforts. For example, you can:  

• Identify a team leader: choose someone to coordinate the team’s efforts and keep things organized.
• Define a purpose: clearly outline what the team aims to achieve in your community.  
• Schedule regular check-ins: set up regular meetings, even if they are informal, to discuss progress and next steps.  
• Outline roles and responsibilities: make sure everyone knows their role in the team and what their responsibilities are.  

Additional resources on building your climate adaptation team can be found in the Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee’s (PIEVC) Large Portfolio Assessment Manual (LPAM) and High-Level Screening Guide (HLSG). 

Next steps

Once you have prepared for your climate risk assessment and adaptation plan — with a clear scope, an understanding of the data you need and the skills in place to take it on — you will be in a good position to identify local climate impacts. For support on getting started on this next phase of work, read Tip sheet: Start identifying local climate impacts.

Explore the Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool for additional insight and support in preparing for climate risk assessment and adaptation planning. You can use the tool to evaluate your existing climate adaptation efforts, pinpoint areas for improvement and chart a clear plan for strengthening your community’s adaptation efforts.

Note: Several of the approaches referenced in this tip sheet are from “Guidance on Good Practices in Climate Change Risk Assessment” (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 2021).

Please note: This webinar recording includes English captions only and does not contain English audio.

Urban forests are critical for a resilient, healthy and equitable community. Communities of all sizes can be the champions of change in urban forestry. Whether you are starting from scratch or reshaping existing plans, it is critical to learn what a robust urban forest management program entails and how this may vary depending on community size. 

Learn from a panel of experts in environment, forest and climate energy as they discuss what makes a robust urban forest management program and how to get started. From policies to protect existing trees to strategies for planting and growing new trees in areas that need them most, this webinar will provide practical insights on how small and large municipalities are advancing their urban forest priorities.

Speakers:  

• Lauren Clark, Climate and Energy Program Manager, Town of Mahone Bay
• Simon Wilmot, Forest and Environmental Officer, City of Charlottetown
• Alexandre Fichon, Analyste en environnement, Ville de Longueuil

This webinar is well suited for:

• Municipal elected officials
• Urban forestry practitioners  
• Parks and recreation staff
• Planners
• Asset management staff
• Climate change / sustainability staff 

Watch the webinar

This webinar was created in partnership by Tree Canada and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. 

Facing an affordable housing crisis and rising to the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Waterloo Region Housing (WRH) has undertaken its first net-zero community housing build. 

Located in Southern Ontario, WRH is expected to complete its newest community housing development at 420 Kingscourt Drive this summer. The project features a variety of energy-efficient design elements as well as tenant amenity spaces to foster a sense of community. The 73-unit building’s energy use will be 50 percent lower than average Canadian residential building, meaning tenants will not only enjoy an affordable, comfortable home, but also benefit from greatly reduced energy costs. 

The project is so exceptional that it was named a winner of a 2024 Sustainable Communities Award.

In this webinar recording, you’ll hear an inspiring story about how a local government with no previous experience constructing net-zero buildings ended up with an award-winning project that proudly incorporates affordability, energy efficiency and community engagement.

Watch the webinar recording to learn:

• A detailed background behind WRH’s project and their goals and challenges, including a walkthrough of their approach, project scope and funding model.
• The value of collaboration with other departments and obtaining council support.
• The innovative pilot of the Community Benefits Program, which provides training to help recruit, engage and retain a diverse construction labour force.
• Lessons learned from project and WRH’s next steps, including at least five additional affordable housing redevelopment projects in the area.

Speakers:

• Tristan Wilkin – Supervisor of Affordable Housing Development, Housing Services; Region of Waterloo
• Brad Pick – Senior Project Manager (Facilities-Large Capital); Region of Waterloo

This webinar was delivered in English with French simultaneous interpretation. 

FCM’s Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada.