Framing the Canadian Centre for Climate Information and Analytics to Advance Municipal Flood Management
Canadian Water Network, with support from Insurance Bureau of Canada
Canadian Water Network, with support from Insurance Bureau of Canada, undertook a study in 2020 on how to best frame and structure a new Canadian Centre for Climate Information and Analytics (C3IA) so that it can realize its intended purpose of becoming Canada’s authoritative source of climate information and decision analysis. The objective of this study was to provide recommendations on the framing and structuring of the C3IA so that it will be useful for, and used by, municipal decision makers.
To make effective decisions about adapting to climate change (including flood management), municipalities, upper levels of government and the private sector need relevant, timely and reliable climate data. Given the prevalence of flooding as both a difficult and costly challenge for Canadian municipalities, Canadian Water Network used it as the ‘lens’ through which to assess the framing for the C3IA.
Canadian Water Network’s final report provides insights and recommendations to ensure the C3IA would have strong value for Canadian municipalities. The C3IA represents a clear and nationally relevant opportunity to support Canadian municipalities in protecting citizens, the environment and local economies from the impacts of climate change. Understanding the needs of these decision makers, as well as exactly what data, information and knowledge will need to be shared or accessed, will be critical to the success of the C3IA.
