As the federal lead for freshwater science, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Science and Technology Branch is leading the development of a National Freshwater Science Agenda. It is an inclusive and coordinated roadmap that identifies the most pressing freshwater challenges across Canada. Over the next ten years, the National Freshwater Science Agenda will drive a coordinated science focus on these challenges. ECCC is currently engaging broadly with provinces and territories, Indigenous knowledge holders, academia, NGOs, professional associations, and many others.

An online freshwater science prioritization survey to identify and confirm freshwater science priorities is currently underway and it is informed by a discussion paper. Focused roundtables will follow to provide opportunities to dive into these science priorities in more detail, discuss opportunities to collectively support science mobilization and advance science needs, and inform the development of the Science Agenda. Findings from the prioritization survey and roundtables will inform the development of the Science Agenda, with a final draft anticipated in spring 2025.

For questions about the National Freshwater Science Agenda, please reach out to the NFSA team at [email protected].