Subjects: JVN, ENP, CFG
Government of Canada collaborates with Quebec's Ouranos to bring climate expertise to Canadians
MONTRÉAL, Feb. 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Canadians are feeling the impacts of our changing climate. Last year, extreme weather caused $1.9 billion in property damage. As our climate changes, cities and towns, planners and builders, researchers and practitioners need reliable and accurate information on how our communities and lifestyles are affected. Last year, the Government created the Canadian Centre for Climate Services, ensuring Canadians can get accurate and authoritative climate information as they adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Today, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced a new collaboration between the Canadian Centre for Climate Services and Ouranos, in Quebec. Through this collaboration, the Government of Canada is investing $1.25 million over five years, in Ouranos?a climate-science consortium based in Quebec. This investment will enhance Ouranos's ability to share climate-science expertise and help Canadians plan for the impacts of climate change.
The Province of Quebec is an important partner to Ouranos. For over 15 years, Ouranos has been providing important climate information to regional and national clients, helping them identify and implement climate change adaptation strategies. Federal funding allows Ouranos to expand access to its climate services, including training. This funding will ultimately enhance the collective capacity to deliver coordinated climate services across Canada, ensuring Canadians are prepared for our climate-changed future.
Quotes
"As Canada looks to a climate-changed future, it's essential we support scientific organizations that provide sound and accessible climate information to Canadians. By collaborating with the climate experts at Ouranos, we're ensuring Canadians in Quebec and across the country have access to the climate information they need. Together, Canada is building climate resilience and the foundations of our children and grandchildren's low-carbon future."
? Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
"Ouranos is happy to collaborate with the Canadian Centre for Climate Services, especially as a regional climate-services expertise centre. This initiative will help improve sharing of climate information and facilitate access for decision-makers, practitioners, and professionals who want to reduce the risks associated with the impacts of climate change. Adaptation will be unavoidable as we learn to live in a new climate."
? Alain Bourque, Director General of Ouranos
Quick facts
- Canada is experiencing the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events that contribute to summer wildfires in British Columbia and springtime flooding in eastern Canada, underscore the need to better prepare Canadians to adapt and build resilience to climate change.
- The Government of Canada is helping Canadians adapt to challenges posed by climate change. Adapting involves making adjustments in our decisions, activities, and thinking. For example, we're developing more stringent building standards for areas where heavier snowfall is expected and limiting development in coastal areas where sea level is projected to rise.
- The Government of Canada created the Canadian Centre for Climate Services in 2018 so that all Canadians?from homeowners to municipal planners?have the information and support they need to understand and plan for climate impacts.
- Ouranos is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert climate-service provider. This organization has a long history of providing climate information to enable adaptation.
- This collaboration with Ouranos is the second in a series of collaborations planned with provinces and territories across the country (including one with the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium).
- The Province of Quebec provides a significant source of funding to Ouranos, and it is represented on the Ouranos board of directors.
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Associated links
- Ouranos
- Canadian Centre for Climate Services
- Canada's climate plan: The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page
Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page
SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada
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