New climate resource centre to help Great Lakes communities and Ontario users adapt to climate change
Mississauga, Ontario, September 25, 2023
A new climate resource centre to help Great Lakes communities and Ontario users adapt to climate change launches today. The Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation (ORCCA) is a pilot initiative led by ICLEI Canada and supported by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Financial support is also being provided by the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change Canada. The Centre provides support services to Great Lakes communities and other Ontario users looking for assistance in their efforts to adapt to climate change and build local resilience. It supports both federal and provincial commitments under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health.
“Ontarians are facing the impacts of climate change now, but many communities in the Great Lakes basin and around the province lack the resources, capacity, and knowledge to assess impacts, develop plans, and implement action to prepare for a changing climate. They may also lack the resources and expertise to source and analyze climate information and/or implement adaptation solutions,” explains Ewa Jackson, ICLEI Canada’s Managing Director. “ORCCA fills this gap by providing a one-stop-shop where users can get access to Great Lakes and Ontario specific information and resources for various stages of adaptation action.”
Services and resources offered through ORCCA will increase the pace and scale of adaptation across the Great Lakes basin and Ontario communities by improving access to climate adaptation support in the region. The Centre will connect Great Lakes communities and Ontario users to readily available and locally applicable climate data and resources. ORCCA staff will also provide technical support services and expert guidance.
« Our government is proud to support the work of the Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation to advance climate change adaptation and resilience efforts across Ontario and the Great Lakes region,” said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “By providing critical climate support services, the Centre will help communities become more resilient to climate change, while further protecting the Great Lakes for future generations.”
ORCCA is the newest addition to a growing network of climate service organizations across Canada including the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, Ouranos, ClimateWest, and CLIMAtlantic.
“Adapting to climate change requires access to climate data, tools and information, and that’s the role of the Canadian Centre for Climate Services. The Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation will help organizations, local governments and businesses integrate this information into their specific planning and decision-making. This new hub is a great example of federal-provincial cooperation and is part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to take concrete action to help Canadians adapt to the many impacts of climate change,” explains the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
ICLEI Canada brings their 25+ years of experience working with Canadian communities to build capacity for climate action, including working closely with Great Lake communities over the past decade. A Steering Committee brings additional expertise, experience, and range of perspectives to the project. Working together, ICLEI Canada and the ORCCA Steering Committee will foster regional collaboration and respond to the climate adaptation needs of communities in the Great Lakes basin and Ontario in general.
The launch of ORCCA was made during the opening of the 2023 Livable Cities Forum — Canada’s preeminent event for municipal leaders and practitioners who want to create livable cities. Delegates will have the opportunity to learn more about ORCCA and other climate service providers from across the country at the Forum.
Additional information about ORCCA is available online at www.orcca-craco.ca.