Resources

“Canadian communities face challenges of declining infrastructure quality and diminishing health and resilience of many ecosystems, a challenge made far more pressing by climate change. To address this, leading local governments are starting to identify, value and account for natural assets in their financial planning and asset management programs as a means to develop deliver core services sustainably through a climate resilient green infrastructure. This four-week online course covers core concepts, the most recent case examples and latest approaches to municipal natural asset management. The course will provide both essential information to anyone working for, or with local governments or who is interested in innovative approaches to community sustainability. The course also offers an opportunity to discuss with peers and the instructor, potential approaches to challenges and opportunities in learners’ own communities.”

The 15th Conference of Parties on Biodiversity occurred from December 7th – 19th in Montreal, Canada in the hopes of protecting biodiversity and halting nature loss. A Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted titled the Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework. It is an exciting development in the global efforts to protect biodiversity and nature and points clearly to supporting nature-based and natural infrastructure as a component of the solution.

The targets that refer directly to nature-based solutions are:

TARGET 8
Minimize the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity and increase its resilience
through mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction actions, including through nature-based solution
and/or ecosystem-based approaches, while minimizing negative and fostering positive impacts of climate
action on biodiversity.

TARGET 11
Restore, maintain and enhance nature’s contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services,
such as regulation of air, water, and climate, soil health, pollination and reduction of disease risk, as well
as protection from natural hazards and disasters, through nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based
approaches for the benefit of all people and nature.

A report was just released by the Council of Canadian Academies on Canada’s carbon sink potential and the use of nature-based climate solutions. From the Chair of the Expert Panel: “On a global scale, the carbon stored in Canada’s forests, wetlands, grasslands, and coastlines is quite significant,” said Glen MacDonald, PhD, FRSC, Chair of the Expert Panel. “Canada has the opportunity to become a leader in nature-based climate solutions and it’s our hope that this report will help to inform both Canadian and international efforts to meet the global challenges of climate change.”

The “Top 10 Municipal Actions to Advance Nature-Based Climate Solutions” is a guide created by Nature Canada that identifies the ten most effective methods for integrating nature-based climate solutions into municipal plans and actions. This guide links to other resources and programs that support municipal uptake of nature-based climate solutions. This guide provides some key ideas for municipal actions and directs the reader towards funding programs, case-studies, and links to useful policy frameworks.

The Climate Change Adaptation Resource Pathway (ARP) for Natural and Nature-based Solutions is an interactive-PDF tool created by Natural Resources Canada in collaboration with the New Brunswick Environmental Network designed to help adaptation practitioners at all levels traverse the vast array of information available on natural and nature‑based climate change adaptation solutions. Peruse key terms, FAQs, training opportunities, networks, and a selection of key resources and tools.

This eye-catching resource designed by Royama Design presents three popular applications of natural and nature-based infrastructure along with their components, principles and case study pricing examples.

This is the printable version. If you are interested in the web version of the document, you can find it in the resource section of the website.

This eye-catching resource designed by Royama Design presents three popular applications of natural and nature-based infrastructure along with their components, principles and case study pricing examples.

If you are interested in printing the poster, you can find the printing file in the resource section of the website.

The TNFD framework seeks to provide recommendations and guidance on nature-related risks and opportunities relevant to a wide range of market participants, including investors, analysts, corporate executives and boards, regulators, stock exchanges and accounting firms.

The framework is being developed following the TNFD principles to be market usable, science-based, purpose driven, integrated and adaptive, globally inclusive, and embracing a full approach to nature-related risks and employing an integrated approach to climate- and nature-related risks.

The first beta version of the TNFD framework includes three core components:

• An outline of fundamental concepts and definitions for understanding nature that the TNFD recommends market participants use when assessing and disclosing their nature-related risks and opportunities.

• TNFD’s draft disclosure recommendations for nature-related risks and opportunities; and

• Guidance for corporates and financial institutions to undertake nature-related risk and opportunity assessment and incorporate into their enterprise strategy and risk management processes to inform a range of corporate and capital allocation decisions, including those relating to reporting and disclosure.

• The Climate Risk Institute (CRI) hosts courses to advance adaptation in Ontario, and the Prairies:

o   Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Training for Professional Planners (ON). CRI is collaborating with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute and Risk Sciences International to offer customized training for professional planners starting in March 2022. The training includes three modules: Climate Science and Adaptation; Climate Policy; and, Communication and Collaboration. All modules are facilitated by experts, feature case studies, and interactive exercises.

o   In partnership with the Canadian Institute of Planners, CRI will also offer a stream specific to professional planners the Prairies region. The stream focuses on integrating regional information on climate change impacts, adaptation solutions, and policy frameworks, and helps build skills in climate engagement and communication. The date is not set, although expected for early 2022.

o   Infrastructure Resilience Professional (IRP) Credentialing Courses, launched initially by Engineers Canada, help infrastructure practitioners, including engineers, strengthen their knowledge and competencies to advance climate-resilient approaches for the planning, design, and management of infrastructure. There are two (2) course offerings in early 2022:

• Climate Change and Infrastructure Risk – the PIEVC Protocol (Wednesdays, starting January 19, 2022; and Wednesdays, starting February 23, 2022);
• Asset Management and Climate Resiliency (Tuesdays, starting February 15, 2022).

These courses and others will run throughout 2022. There is a sign up for IRP Course Notifications.

• The Government of Manitoba offers a Manitoba Climate Resilience Training (MRCT) portal to build the capacity and expertise of professionals (including engineers and planners), northern businesses, and Indigenous organizations and communities, to address climate change risks toward land use, water management and infrastructure. Training helps build capacity to integrate adaptation into planning, community engagement and decision making. Upcoming offerings are available for free, through March 2022, and include:

o   Introduction to Costs & Benefits of Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptation for Northern Businesses (January 19, 2022);

o   Infrastructure Climate Risk Assessment- Featuring the PIEVC Process (January 26, 2022);

o   Climate Change, Indigenous Solutions and the Future (January 30, 2022);

o   The “Dollars and Sense” of Climate Change (February 3, 2022);

o   An Introduction to Climate Change through Codes, Standards and Regulations (February 9, 2022);

o   Climate Change Funding for Business Resilience (February 16, 2022); and

o   Nature-Based Infrastructure Solutions to Enhance Resilience (February 23, 2022).

Click here to download the MRCT Course Catalogue.

• Royal Roads University offers courses via the Adaptation Learning Network to help professionals integrate adaptation competencies into practice through training. Upcoming courses include:

o   Intro to Climate Policy (January 24 – February 20, 2022);

o   Climate Change Adaptation Fundamentals (February 27 – March 20, 2022);

o   Natural Asset Management (April 4 – May 1, 2022);

o   Ecosystems for the Future (April 25 – May 6, 2022); and

o   Climate Change Perspective for Project Management (May 2 – 29, 2022).

Check out the courses page for other offerings.

• There is an upcoming nature-related offering (and the registration deadline is fast approaching):

o   Your Forest in a Changing Climate is a free, two-day, conference (January 31 & February 1, 2022), presented by the New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners, and is geared toward woodlot owners and forestry professionals. There will be presentations and expert discussions on adapting silviculture management to generate resilient forests in the Acadian Forest region.

• The Saskatchewan Water Security Agency (WSA) offers courses in water management. Courses include:

o   AgH2Onward is a free, two-day online workshop offered throughout 2022. There are several start dates in January, February and March. The workshop introduces innovative agricultural water management solutions towards strengthening farm and ranch operations. AgH2Onward includes these modules:

• The Agricultural Water Management Strategy in Saskatchewan;
• Effective agricultural water management tools and techniques; and
• How incorporating mitigation strategies can help you adapt to a changing climate.

o   Introductory Qualified Persons Training sessions start on February 8 and on March 8, 2022. This course offers introductory concepts to help ensure that Qualified Persons or “QPs” have the skills and knowledge necessary to assist landowners in designing adaptive projects that meet the requirements for a drainage approval. The objective is to boost the resiliency of the agriculture water management sector.

This course serves as an introduction to the concept and considerations related to coastal restoration with a nature-based approach. The speaker is Victoria Fernandez, coastal engineer at CBCL limited in Halifax.