Canada in a Changing Climate is the national assessment of how and why Canada’s climate is changing; the impacts of these changes on our communities, health, environment, and economy; and how we are adapting across the country.
Engagement for this assessment cycle began in 2023 and is ongoing. The first report in this cycle is expected to be released in 2026.
On this page
Our process
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Text description
A graphic displaying the seven steps in the National Assessment Process: launch, plan, build author teams, assess, review, finalize, and release. The words “engage” and “advise” are shown around these steps, indicating that they are ongoing throughout the process. “Engage” includes “ongoing and broad outreach through surveys, workshops and conferences.” “Advise” involves “an Advisory Committee composed of assessment users and subject-matter experts who provide ongoing advice and input to the process.” An arrow on the graphic shows that the National Assessment Process is iterative.
The Canada in a Changing Climate: National Assessment Process is led by Natural Resources Canada and depends on the collaboration of a broad partnership of subject-matter experts and assessment users from all orders of government, Indigenous organizations, universities, professional and non-governmental groups, and the private sector.
The public is also involved through meetings, conferences and online engagement tools. An advisory committee provides the Process with ongoing advice and input.
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Launch: We engage broadly to discuss the scope and goals of an upcoming assessment
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Plan: We plan the assessment’s products (i.e., outcomes) and adjust the approach to best meet our goals
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Build author teams: We invite subject matter experts to lead chapters and form writing teams that represent a range of expertise and regions in Canada
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Assess: These teams gather, analyze and assess information, then draft assessment chapters
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Review and scientific editing: Experts review the drafts for accuracy and completeness
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Finalize: Author teams work with the Assessment Secretariat to finalize the content
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Release: We translate, design and distribute the assessment products
Upcoming Reports
Canada’s Changing Climate Report -2 (estimated release 2026)
Lead: Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Focus: Updates the 2019 report - explores how and why the climate is changing, providing the scientific foundation for understanding climate impacts in Canada.
Stage: Post-review
Special Report on Extreme Events (estimated release 2027)
Lead: Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Focus: Proposed special report on the rising frequency and complexity of extreme weather and climate events in Canada, their impacts, and how communities are adapting.
Stage: Engaging authors
Living in our Changing Climate (estimated release 2028)
Lead: Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Focus: The main national assessment on climate change impacts and adaptation across Canadian society, economy and environment.
Stage: Engaging authors
Assessing the State of Adaptation (estimated release 2029)
Lead: Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Focus: Special report assessing Canada’s progress on climate change adaptation—where we are, how we got here, and what comes next.
Stage: Planning
How to participate
Are you interested in contributing to the next Canada in a Changing Climate assessment cycle? The Assessment Secretariat is seeking climate change science, impacts and adaptation experts to review chapters of the upcoming reports. Your expertise and feedback will play a key role in strengthening these reports and ensuring they accurately reflect the current knowledge on climate change science, impacts and adaptation in Canada.
Check back here periodically to see when we are looking for reviewers.
Previous activities
Your Voice, Your Art, Our Climate Youth Art Contest (Closed)
The Your Voice, Your Art, Our Climate youth art contest closed on May 20th. Open to students in grades 7–12 across Canada, the contest invited young artists to visually explore how climate change is shaping our lives, communities, and future. We were thrilled to see such creativity and passion in the submissions. Selected artwork may be featured on ChangingClimate.ca, in future National Assessment reports, and in upcoming exhibits.
Call for authors – Expression of interest (Closed)
In March 2025, we launched a call for expressions of interest to be Coordinating Lead Authors, Lead Authors, Contributing Authors and Student Leaders for the upcoming National Assessment Report, Living in Our Changing Climate Report (title to be confirmed). The authors will develop various chapters, covering topics such as ecosystems, water, food, energy, infrastructure, and the economy.
Call for Advisory Committee members – Expression of interest (Closed)
In August 2024, we launched a call for expressions of interest to form our Advisory Committee that will provide advice and guidance throughout the next Canada in a Changing Climate: National Assessment Process. The Advisory Committee plays a crucial role in shaping and guiding the assessment process.
Scoping workshops
Between July 2023 and June 2024, we hosted 11 in-person and virtual scoping workshops to ensure a wide range of participants had the opportunity to weigh in on themes and approaches for the next Assessment cycle. This included both open workshops and targeted sessions with groups such as youth, First Nations, Inuit and Métis from across the country. Input received during the scoping phase will help inform the next assessment cycle, including themes and approaches to consider. A summary of the input received has been captured in the recently published Scoping for the next Canada in a Changing Climate: National Assessment Process What We Heard Report 2024.
Our team
The National Assessment reports are made possible through a team of experts who lead and support the assessment process and accurately convey their findings.
Assessment Secretariat
Housed within the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Division (CCIAD) of Natural Resources Canada, the team works with the advisory committee to coordinate the logistical aspects of the assessment process, conduct scientific editing, outreach and engagement, contract support services, and produce the final reports.
Advisory Committee
Comprised of subject-matter experts spanning government, academic institutions, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations and industry nationwide. They provide advice and input on issues such as assessment approach and goals, report organization, supporting products, who else to involve, and communicating the process and results.
Learn more about the Advisory Committee
Lead authors
Oversee the delivery of their reports or chapters, ensuring that the writing teams contain the appropriate expertise and adhere to format and writing guidelines. They are responsible for responding to reviewers’ comments.
Past assessment cycles
Between 2019 and 2024, a series of authoritative, user-friendly, online reports were released. The first, Canada’s Changing Climate Report (2019), assessed how and why Canada’s climate is changing and what changes are projected for the future. Subsequent reports focused on impacts, adaptation, and resilience, which included:
- Canada in a Changing Climate: National Issues Report (2021)
- Canada in a Changing Climate: Regional Perspectives Report (2020-2022)
- Health of Canadians in a Changing Climate (2022)
- Synthesis Report (2023)
- For Our Future: Indigenous Resilience Report (2024)
All of the impacts and adaptation reports include “case stories”, which are short, non-technical descriptions of concrete, on-the-ground examples of adaptation actions across Canada. Explore the case stories through the Map of Adaptation Actions.
These reports serve as a resource for Canadians, raising awareness of the issues facing our country and providing information to support sound decisions and actions that address climate change and adapt to its impacts.
Reports produced in the last process can be found on ChangingClimate.ca.
Reports released between 2007 and 2016 are part of previous assessment cycles. They include:
- From Impacts to Adaptation (2007)
- Sector Perspectives on Impacts and Adaptation (2014)
- Canada's Marine Coasts in a Changing Climate (2016)
- Climate risks and adaptation practices for the Canadian Transportation Sector (2016)
All of the reports released between 2007 and 2024 can be accessed on the National Assessment Process page.
Related links
Contact us
If you have any questions or want to be added to our distribution list, please contact us at: nationalassessment-evaluationnationale@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.