Canada’s changing climate

The impact of global climate change is affecting every region of Canada. From coast-to-coast-to-coast, we are experiencing rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, declining snow and ice cover, changing freshwater availability, rising sea levels, increasing wildfire risk, and more frequent and severe climate extremes.

The impact of global climate change is affecting every region of Canada. From coast-to-coast-to-coast, we are experiencing rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, declining snow and ice cover, changing freshwater availability, rising sea levels, increasing wildfire risk, and more frequent and severe climate extremes. These changes are creating challenges for people, communities, businesses, ecosystems, and infrastructure across the country. 

Understanding how Canadians need to adapt to these changes, both in the near-term and further into the future, is critical information needed for effective climate resilience and informing our fight against climate change. Canada’s Changing Climate Report 2026 is a rigorous assessment of the latest peer-reviewed scientific literature and data examining past and future changes in Canada’s climate. The report builds on the first edition, released in 2019, and gathers expert conclusions in one place to facilitate effective decision-making. The information in the report is accessible to a wide range of audiences, with both high-level summary information and detailed analyses of the evidence that supports key findings.

Canada’s Changing Climate Report 2026 is the physical climate science contribution to the fifth cycle of Canada in a Changing Climate, the national assessment process 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 to these impacts across the country will be covered by other reports under the national assessment process.