Input to Provincial Strategies

Watershed management programs build resiliency in Ontario’s natural resources by protecting and improving water quality, ensuring sustainable water supplies, restoring and protecting biodiversity, and addressing low water issues.

Conservation Authority programs that help us identify and address climate change impacts include: 

• Watershed planning
• Watershed monitoring and reporting 
• Agricultural and rural stewardship 
• Stormwater management through low impact development and green infrastructure 
• Flood management 
• Natural heritage protection 
• Planning and regulations

As well, many Conservation Authorities are on the forefront of climate change research, working with government and agency stakeholders including the Ontario Climate Advisory Committee and Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Climate Annex Binational Subcommittee. Conservation Authorities are also working with local municipalities to develop and implement climate adaptation strategies. Conservation Ontario is currently engaged in providing comments towards Ontario’s Climate Change Impact Assessment. This Impact Assessment was proposed in the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Disscussion paper:Made in Ontario Environment Plan.

Ontario also established a Climate Change Advisory Panel and Conservation Ontario provided recommendations.