Questions & Answers
This list of questions and answers has been created to help explain our climate change adaptation programming. If your question does not appear here, please submit your question to adaptation@nrcan.gc.ca and we will respond to you directly.
What is the goal of the Regional Adaptation Collaboratives program?
The goal of the Regional Adaptation Collaboratives (RACs) program is to catalyze coordinated and sustained action to reduce vulnerability to a changing climate by advancing adaptation planning and decision-making.
Who is eligible to receive Regional Adaptation Collaboratives program funding?
Eligible recipients include the following Canadian organizations:
- non-federal government agencies (provincial, territorial, regional, municipal, and aboriginal);
- businesses and industries and their professional associations;
- educational and academic institutions; and
- not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations.
Can academic institutions be part of a Regional Adaptation Collaborative?
It is important to note that the Regional Adaptation Collaboratives program is NOT a research program. In this respect, it represents an evolution from the climate change impacts and adaptation research programming administered by the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Division over the last ten years.
This being said, academic institutions, such as universities, may have a key role in filling specific research gaps to support the decision-making objectives of Regional Adaptation Collaboratives. In such cases, academic institutions may be eligible to receive funds to carry out the necessary applied research in support of a Collaborative.
Can federal organizations apply for Regional Adaptation Collaboratives program funding?
No.
However, federal organizations may wish to provide services or funding in support of a Collaborative. In this case, their services and funding contributions become a component of the total federal contribution to the Collaborative, and must be matched (with funding or in-kind contributions) by the Collaborative.
Does the provincial / territorial government need to officially be part of a Regional Adaptation Collaborative taking place on its territory?
The role of provincial / territorial governments in advancing adaptation to climate change is critical. While they do not have to be an official collaborator in a Regional Adaptation Collaborative (RAC), organizations proposing a RAC are required to send a copy of their letter of interest to the provincial / territorial adaptation contact(s) in their region (see list of contacts in Annex II of the Call for Letters of Interest).
What is meant by ‘region’ in the program name “Regional Adaptation Collaboratives”?
A ‘region’ in the context of this program will be determined by the theme or focus of each Regional Adaptation Collaborative. As such, a ‘region’ would be defined by the boundaries agreed to by the Collaborators in order to make meaningful progress in advancing adaptation solutions within the timeline of the program.
It is important to note that the geographical boundaries of a RAC do not have to align with those of a specific province / territory. Thus, a Regional Adaptation Collaborative could encompass two or more provinces / territories working together on common climate change impacts and adaptation issues.
What do you mean by “tools” in the context of adaptation?
An “adaptation tool” is a method that guides non-climate change experts through a series of analytical steps to examine the implications of climate change on their policies, plans, and operations, and determine appropriate response options. There is a need to make climate change information relevant and useful to potential users from different sectors. An efficient way to meet this need is to develop tools tailored to meet user needs.
What are the linkages between Tools for Adaptation and Regional Adaptation Collaboratives programs?
Through NRCan's Tools for Adaptation program, decision support tools (such as methodologies, checklists, etc) will be developed to support adaptation. This program will focus on "sectors" and will build on initial work funded by Natural Resources Canada on community planning and infrastructure. Regional Adaptation Collaboratives could certainly use tools developed under the Tools for Adaptation program in order to advance adaptation decision-making. For example, the methodology developed by Engineers Canada to assess the engineering related vulnerability of infrastructure is a tool that could be used by a RAC if it plans to examine infrastructure as part of its work.
Who are decision-makers?
In the context of the Regional Adaptation Collaboratives program, a ‘decision-maker’ is a representative of an organization that will be, or is already affected by the impacts of climate change, and who would be involved in taking action (i.e., implementing adaptation decisions) to reduce vulnerability to these impacts.
For example, decision-makers include those responsible for: long-term projects (e.g., infrastructure) and plans (e.g., land-use); products, services or policies that are sensitive to climate; carrying out statutory or legal requirements to protect communities or interests in the public good (e.g., emergency management).
Why only create six (6) Regional Adaptation Collaboratives?
The targeted number of Regional Adaptation Collaboratives will encourage and foster collaboration between stakeholders on a regional basis, in some cases, across geo-political boundaries. This manageable number of Regional Adaptation Collaboratives will also provide the necessary injection of resources to ensure deliverables (adaptation decisions) are achieved within the program timeline.
Are there a minimum and a maximum amount you can provide per year for a Regional Adaptation Collaborative?
Yes. The maximum program contribution from NRCan is $2M per year and the minimum program contribution from NRCan is $1M per year.
The total federal contribution to a RAC must be matched by the members of the Collaborative.
Are you expecting all collaborators of a Regional Adaptation Collaborative to participate in the cost-sharing?
Yes. For the Regional Adaptation Collaboratives, a cash and/or in-kind contribution of each collaborator is a requirement.
In-kind contributions must be directly related to the approved projects and can include:
- salaries and benefits
- professional, scientific and contracting services
- travel, including meals and accommodation
- printing services
- data collection services, including processing, analysis and management
- materials, supplies and equipment
- computer software and computer support services
- laptop and desktop computers approved on a case by case basis
- library and bibliographic expenses
- overhead costs approved on a case by case basis
- reimbursement of the Goods and Services Tax, Harmonized Sales Tax and Provincial Sales Tax net of any tax rebate to which the Proponent is entitled.
Because this list is not comprehensive, it is expected that approval of in-kind contributions will be done on a case-by-case basis at the contribution agreement stage of the program.
For cost-sharing, is it possible to receive funding from other federal sources?
Other federal organizations can be part of a Collaborative and provide funding, but total federal assistance (i.e., funding from NRCan and all other federal cash or in-kind assistance) cannot exceed 50 percent of the total cost of each Regional Adaptation Collaborative.