Backgrounder
In Budget 2017, the Government of Canada announced funding to create the Canadian Centre for Climate Services to help people across the country make decisions about adapting to climate change.
Launched in October 2018, the Canadian Centre for Climate Services is a dedicated service that makes Canada's climate data accessible to Canadians, communities, and businesses.
On February 12, 2019, the Government of Canada announced a collaboration between the Canadian Centre for Climate Services and the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium. The Government is investing $1.25 million over five years, in the regional climate service centre located at the University of Victoria. This funding will help the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium share its climate research throughout the Pacific and Yukon region and across Canada, providing Canadians with reliable information to address the climate-related risks they face.
Providing better access to climate data and information
The Canadian Centre for Climate Services provides access to climate data such as changes in temperature and precipitation, tools, and information from across the country. The Canadian Centre for Climate Services strives to provide authoritative, timely, and relevant climate services. This goal is pursued by working in collaboration with federal government departments, different levels of government, and regional climate organizations.
Helping Canadians adapt to the impacts of climate change and build resilience is a pillar of Canada's climate plan. The Canadian Centre for Climate Services is helping Canadians by
- building resilience to climate change;
- improving understanding of how the climate is changing; and
- providing a reliable source of information that can help Canadians discover how these changes may affect their daily lives.
The Canadian Centre for Climate Services also provides guidance and resources to help Canadians use this knowledge in making climate-smart decisions when planning for the future.
Through the Canadian Centre for Climate Services website, Canadians can access climate data and tools from various partners as well as other climate experts in Canada, using our library of climate resources. Canadians can also contact the Canadian Centre for Climate Services Support Desk to find and interpret climate data, information, or tools by completing and submitting the email form on the website or by calling 1-833-517-0376.
Building local capacity to help Canadians from coast to coast
The Canadian Centre for Climate Services works with regional climate organizations to provide locally relevant information to users. This collaboration helps build a strong network of climate service providers.
The Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium is a regional climate service centre located at the University of Victoria. It provides practical information on the physical impacts of climate variability and change in the Pacific and Yukon region and assists Canadians in understanding and using climate information in decision-making.
The Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium is recognized and supported by the Province of British Columbia, and it has significant climate expertise as well as experience in assisting clients in understanding and using climate information in decision-making.
In regions of Canada not currently served by a climate-expert organization, the Canadian Centre for Climate Services is working with provinces and territories to foster the development of organizations that can serve the Atlantic provinces, the Prairie provinces, and the North.
